YMC and Umbro Reveal Rugby-Inspired SS22 Collaboration

U.K.-based label YMC has launched a new collaboration with heritage sportswear label Umbro, taking inspiration from rugby and creative director Fraser Moss’ own affiliation with the sport. The collection also references Umbro founder
Harold Humphreys’ motto of “look smart, play smart.”

Covering on- and off-pitch clothing, the capsule features jerseys and shorts as well as shirting, jackets and trousers, with a focus on high-quality fabrics as well as unlikely design touches such as mismatched stripes, aloha prints and a graphic letter badge.

As a child growing up in ’70s Wales, there was no escaping the rugby furore, mainly because we were good at it – arguably the best. The passion still holds true today, if not the success. It’s our national sport – a game for all people, not just the entitled. We live and breathe it to the point of obsession. And when our players translate this into an emotional fervour, we call it hwyl. There was only one choice of inspiration for me – the game played with the egg-shaped ball. Umbro, who has roots in this sport going back to 1924, has been an amazing inspiration for us and is the perfect collaborator.

I felt so privileged to shoot our Umbro YMC collaboration at the legendary London Welsh Rugby ground at Old Deer Park. They may not be a household name anymore, but back in the day they were famous due partly to a modern approach to coaching and a who’s who of Welsh rugby legends. Not only were they the best rugby team in England in the late ’60s and early ’70s, they also had seven players represent the British Lions tour to New Zealand in 1971 – a record that remains to this day.

The full YMC x Umbro collection is available now from the YMC web store and select stockists.

In other fashion news, Wood Wood has launched an archival jersey capsule to mark its 20th anniversary.