The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Rocky Mountain Collegian – Blogs

What would happen if you mixed today’s top clothing designers with some of the most reputable athletic brands around the world? You would get an awful combination of high prices and dysfunctional clothing, right? Far from it. Today, reputable athletic brands like Puma, Umbro, Adidas — and, more recently added to the list, Nike — have all produced new lines designed by some of today’s top designers.
I have to begin with the most recent line of apparel, which comes from Nike. While the name behind the line may be unfamiliar to some, Junya Watanabe’s clothing is “some of the best-and most clever on the high-end market” according to Christopher Bollen of GQ Magazine. And the design of Watanabe shows in his Nike line. So next time you are in the market for some casual shoes, the part of the line now on sale, check out Nike By Junya Watanabe. You won’t be disappointed.
Sticking with the topic of footwear, Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto is and has been designing footwear for Adidas and the outcome is incredible. While the footwear carries a slightly heavy price tag right now, it is worth checking out if you have the cash. Check a pair of men’s casual shoes at YOOX; note they are the only pair left on the site.
Now, unlike the initial two brands I have mentioned, Puma is in a league of its own when it comes to designer athletic wear. Miharayasuhiro, Rudolf D. Schuhfabrik, Neil Barrett, and Jil Sander are all doing separate lines for Puma. Also, most recently, Alexander McQueen has joined the Puma bandwagon and is designing shoes. You can find a lot of these lines on the Internet right now, most notably at YOOX. And for a more affordable line, be sure to check out the work of Schuhfabrik.
Last up on the list, and remember this list is in no particular order, is Umbro. The line of clothing, which is simply known as Umbro by Kim Jones, has a following like none other. It could be the functionality of the clothing, or perhaps the following is purely for the aesthetic the line carries. Personally, I think price may have something to do with it. Unlike the other lines, which do carry a bit of that high-fashion mark-up, Umbro by Kim Jones carries no such price tag. You can find more on the line by Kim Jones at the Web site now dedicated to this design combo alone, right here. Be sure to note the online store as well.