Westminster Menswear Archive Opens Its Umbro 100: Sportswear x Fashion Exhibition

This April, Westminster Menswear Archive is spotlighting Umbro during its centenary year, along with the influence the Manchester brand has had on the global sportswear revolution.

The exhibition points to Umbro’s collaboration with Paul Smith in 2002 as the start of the ubiquitous trend for sportswear companies to collaborate with fashion brands and designers. Since then, Umbro has partnered with over 60 globally renowned designers and brands including Kim Jones, Paul Smith, Virgil Abloh, Peter Saville, Christopher Raeburn, Supreme, Nigel Cabourn, Aitor Throup, Palace and Vetements.

With over 120 archive Umbro styles sourced by the Westminster Menswear Archive, the new exhibition explores how the relationship between sportswear and fashion has evolved over 100 years.

The exhibition is broken down into five sections; “Manchester,” “England,” “Tailored,” “Replica,” and “Diamond,” with each sector featuring a slew of iconic Umbro pieces created by design partners including Kim Jones, Aries, Paul Smith, Philip Treacy, Peter Saville, House of Holland, Christopher Raeburn, Pretty Green, and more.

Commenting on the exhibition, Anthony Little, Global Managing Director of Umbro said: “We are thrilled that Westminster Menswear Archive has placed its exhibition spotlight on Umbro in the brand’s centenary year. It’s the perfect way to chronicle the brand’s design achievements whilst underlining the pivotal part Umbro has played in bringing sportswear into the global fashion trend narrative.”

You can head to the Umbro 100: Sportswear x Fashion exhibition now at Ambika P3, 35 Marylebone Road.