My latest work for Reebok is now in stores: the Spring/Summer 2019 Women’s Foundation collection. Designed for the price-conscious, athletic female consumer, the challenge for this collection was to balance cost and features without compromising on style.
The previous Foundation Collection was due for an overhaul, and my expertise was needed to determine the right silhouette assortment within the global competitive landscape at this price point. I was also tasked with finding the right ingredient mix to create an aesthetic that reflected the fresh direction of Reebok apparel.
THE COLLECTION INCLUDES:
Ventilated backpack with padded shoulder straps
Lightweight, ventilated cylinder duffel
Oversized, ventilated classic duffel with 2 handle/strap options
Lightweight, ventilated crossbody tote with adjustable strap
Check out the full portfolio page here for a closer look at my process and inspiration.
I have been working hard over the past few months to update my site with some of my recent work, and I wanted to take the opportunity to share a few of the highlights.
My self-initiated project to design and make one bag per month is still in full swing. It takes some time to photograph and document everything, so there are bags I haven't had the chance to share yet. That said, I'm really excited about the latest uploads:
Check out my project page to find out more about each bag and see the process behind how each was created.
Streetwear blog Highsnobiety has posted a sneak peek of the Reebok x Cottweiler Collaboration I was a part of earlier this year. The collection has just landed in stores, and includes a number of accessories I worked on. Find the full article here.
This past weekend, the latest collaboration I was a part of debuted at London Fashion week. We teamed up for a second season with menswear label Cottweiler, this time to create a collection inspired by Marathon Des Sables, a desert marathon regarded as being the toughest footrace in the world.
The entire collection included apparel, footwear and accessories designed with this extreme environment in mind.
For my part, I worked on:
a lightweight cap with a protective, detachable neck cover
a hydration waist belt
and a lightweight hydration vest/backpack hybrid
If the Hydration Vest looks a little familiar, it's because it was based on the hydration solution for runners I designed for Reebok previously, the Spartan Hybrid. We were able to build upon the particular research, knowledge, and solutions created for the extreme obstacle course race environment and adapt fabrics and details to suit the demanding atmosphere of Des Sables.
The runway show included both the Reebok collaboration and the Cottweiler SS18 collection, both of which were met with great reviews.
“Arguably the focal point of the show, though, was the latest in Cottweiler’s ongoing collaboration with Reebok, which first debuted at Pitti Uomo earlier this year. This joint effort took inspiration from sports after care, and so tied in with Reebok’s ideals of combining the mental, social and physical. ”
— Hypebeast.com
More to come soon! In the meantime, check out Hypebeast and Highsnobiety for more photos and a behind-the-scenes look at the products.
Another collaboration I was a part of was recently released: the Reebok x Garbstore Commuter Pack, a capsule we developed with the famed streetwear brand to address how the clothing you wear can affect the journey you have.
The Insta Pump technology was the inspiration and anchor for this entire product capsule and re-incarnates the Pump’s original usage. The Pump Commuter Jacket is the first piece of apparel to feature Reebok’s signature technology as a fully integrated element of its design. Intended (though not exclusively) for travelling, the jacket’s removable bladder can be inflated for neck or lumbar support, and can be stored away in its own neoprene case when not in use.
I am so excited to share the backpack I worked on for this project, where we tweaked one of our beloved iconic styles that uses our infamous Insta Pump technology to create the perfect compliment to this collection. We used the Insta Pump technology in the shoulder straps for a customizable comfort-focused ergonomic fit, as well as Cordura nylon for durability on your commute, subtle reflective hits, and luxurious suede and leather that hook back to the shoe. The Pump Backpack also boasts ample storage space with a drawcord top closure, internal slip pocket with padded back, and sealed seams.
Check out what Dropdate had to say about the project:
“Garbstore’s Ian Paley has teamed up with Reebok on several of the most boundary-pushing collaborations in recent memory. While much of the footwear world focuses its attention on innovations of the future, Paley has tended to look at re-interpreting the technology, functionality and vintage materials of the past, with a focus on revealing the unseen components of some of Reebok’s most iconic classics.”
— www.thedropdate.com
Head over to Garbstore to get your hands on some of these coveted pieces.
Hypebeast recently shared a behind the scenes look at the Cottweiler for Reebok collaboration that debuted earlier this month at Pitti Uomo. The article provides a lot of great insight into the approach for this collaboration as well as the inspiration behind the FW17 capsule. Have a read and discover more from Cottweiler about the project concept, material usage and details.
Many of the shots include the accessories I worked on. You will see bags, caps and socks, all of which were designed with fabrics, executions and key details that tie back beautifully to the apparel and footwear. I am especially excited about the Memory Foam Holdall - a convertible backpack/duffle with a textural emboss that comes from the salt therapy inspiration for the entire project.
Image: Hypebeast
“The luggage is pretty important,” he says, picking up a backpack/holdall made from memory foam to show us. “This incorporates the entire collection – all of the fabrication, all of the detailing – it’s the concept piece for the accessories.”
— Ben Cottrell, as told to Jason Dike
For more information and images, visit Hypebeast.com
“The capsule collection, which will debut for Fall/Winter 2017, presented itself in the perfect balance between design and function. Technical fabrics were used through out the collection, which was mostly kept tonal, with a distinct techy edge to it. Truly giving the viewer the impression of looking at the future of sportswear, the collection which consists of both apparel and footwear, will for sure find its fans upon its release later this year. Stay tuned.”
— High Snobiety
VOGUE also posted an article, which you can read here.
Image: Vogue
“We had already been handed toweling bags with our press releases—the vibe was clearly therapeutic—and it was a theme transmitted through the clean, futuristic pieces on show.”
— Vogue
Image: Vogue
There will be more information about the project and images coming soon. Stay tuned!
Following the announcement that Cottweiler for Reebok is the Designer Project of Pitti Uomo 91, and I am thrilled to share that I have been working in collaboration with the London-based menswear label on the accessories for this collection. The FW17 will preview at the globally renowned fashion show next month in Florence.
I will be able to share more details after the show in January, but in the meantime, please see the below press release from Pitti Uomo:
Global fitness leader Reebok releases details on the brand’s first apparel, footwear and accessories partnership with forward thinking designers Cottweiler to launch for the FW17 season. The capsule collection embodies the DNA of both brands, fusing the technical and cultural legacy of Reebok with Cottweiler’s unique vision.
Founded by Ben Cottrell and Matthew Dainty, Cottweiler is known for blurring the lines between high fashion and sportswear, receiving critical acclaim in the process.
For FW17, the collection, COTTWEILER For REEBOK, combines highly technical fabrics to create timeless yet progressive pieces that signify a move into the next era of sportswear, in which design and function are both given equal importance.
This week, my friend Brittney Kwasney of Bright Photography took some time out of her busy schedule to take some product shots of my latest bag design, the Summer Tote. This bag is perfect for taking you from the studio to the beach (or vice versa!) and everywhere between.
photo: Brittney Kwasney of Bright Photography
Brittney is an amazing photographer, and was a complete joy to work with. I can't wait to share the rest of these photos with the world - I'm so happy with how they turned out! In the meantime, you can see drawings and more detailed information about this bag here >
We also have an upcoming shoot planned for the Wayfaring Bag, so be sure to check back in again soon to see more pictures of these great summer bags in action.
* A very special thank you goes out to my beautiful model, Nicole Boileau.
