Founded in 1924, Umbro has a humble history as one of Britain’s early manufacturers of true sportswear. Their double diamond logo has been a part of many defining moments in football, commonly associated with England’s national team, but also the kit worn by Brazil during their first World Cup victory back in 1958.
As such, it’s not surprising that they’d find a successful second life off the pitch. Although they’ve since partnered with a ton of cult brands and fashion designers, it wasn’t until 2002 that they began doing co-branded collaborations. In the process, they’ve also highlighted some noteworthy British design talent.
Their first collaborator was none other than Sir Paul Smith, who applied his penchant for dynamic stripes, bright colors, and smart tailoring to the world of British casual sportswear, resulting in clothing that toed the line between hooligan and dandy, a playful mix of Smith’s signature quirkiness and Umbro’s credibility in sport and street.