The first collaboration between London-based designer Craig Green and American clothing manufacturer Champion explores themes of functionality and community in the new Fall/Winter 2020 collection.
Following projects with adidas and Moncler, Green delved into the archive of Champion and split the collection into two stories. The first one utilizes the brand’s college uniforms from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Green has then added topstitched patches with symbols inspired by Latin and Saxon numerals to represent each decade that are featured on the back of the pieces, while the front of each piece is entirely black. The symbols are placed to act like individual time-stamps for each of the decades they represent.
Story number two is more focused on Champion’s technical innovations, particularly the ribbed gusset. Green has put thought into solving the problem of function, which ultimately becomes part of the design aesthetic. Ranging from hoodies and jerseys, this capsule sees the ribbed gusset exaggerated and reinterpreted until it becomes an almost-sculptural addition to the pieces.
The collection is due to launch at Champion’s London and Amsterdam stores, as well as its European web store, on September 3. A Japanese one will then release on September 26.