Carine Roitfeld and her son Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld have unveiled Players, a new sports and media venture that launches for SS25 with Restoin Roitfeld as editor-in-chief and NBA star Dwyane Wade as its first guest editor. Carine Roitfeld is co-founder and head of fashion.
The fashion and multimedia brand is fronted by a bi-annual “collectors magazine” and will expand into “custom publishing, limited edition capsule collections and exclusive collaborations with top athletes and designers”, we’re told.
The duo said that Wade’s role in the inaugural issue sets the tone for Players’ “unique blend of high fashion storytelling, cultural influence and immersive brand experiences”.
Restoin Roitfeld added: “we are building something beyond the magazine – an intersection of fashion, culture and sport that speaks to a new generation of readers and collaborators.
“This venture will open doors for a new wave of creatives – writers, stylist photographers and designers – who have never worked with the CR team before, bringing fresh perspectives and storytelling to players. It will also really find how brands are featured, placing them in unexpected factors and collaborations that feel disruptive, modern and culturally irrelevant”.
They believe that the “fusion of sports and high fashion has never been more topical. Social media has transformed athletes into the new style stars of today”.
As mentioned, it will be more than a magazine and beyond editorial storytelling will foster a global network of creatives athletes and fashion insiders with the aforementioned custom publishing and product drops elements also key to creating a durable brand.
Luxury fashion powerhouse Prada is making bold moves. CEO Andrea Guerra has reportedly flown to New York, a source told Reuters, as the group engages in talks to acquire Versace from Capri Holdings—a deal that could bring together two of Italy’s most iconic fashion names.
A source revealed that on his visit to the U.S. financial hub, Prada CEO Andrea Guerra is joined by Lorenzo Bertelli, the son of the group’s key shareholders, Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, who also serves as chief marketing officer.
Meanwhile, Capri Holdings, based in New York, announced on Thursday that Donatella Versace is stepping down as the brand’s main designer after nearly three decades.
Starting April 1, Dario Vitale, a designer from Miu Miu, a smaller brand within the Prada Group, will step into Donatella Versace’s role as chief creative officer of the Medusa-head brand. According to Morningstar analysts, this strategic move could pave the way for a potential Prada-Versace acquisition.
Prada declined to comment, and Reuters could not confirm whether Guerra’s trip was directly linked to discussions with Capri Holdings regarding a possible Versace deal.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Prada was nearing a €1.5 billion ($1.64 billion) agreement to acquire Versace. On February 20, a source told Reuters that Prada had been granted four weeks to review the financials of its smaller rival.
Beyond Versace, Prada is also rumored to be eyeing Jimmy Choo, another Capri Holdings brand, further signaling its ambitious expansion plans.
British sportswear brand Umbro heads back to its Northern roots for the release of its collection and campaign for Spring/Summer 2025.
The new ‘Northern Quarter’ collection and supporting promo gains inspiration from “the authenticity and creativity of the brand’s home city Manchester, with the line “bringing Umbro’s sports heritage up to date with a casual street-savvy swagger”.
Umbro says it continues to shape the global landscape of sportswear, “defining style both on and off the pitch”.
Recent partnerships, including with Palace, Supreme, and Aries, “have helped cement Umbro’s pioneering reputation within the sports fashion space”, it said.
So this season, the brand refocuses on the place where it all started, “acknowledging its roots and archive, while incorporating a renewed and forward-thinking design code inspired by Manchester’s relentlessly vibrant and creative Northern Quarter”.
The football heritage-inspired collection “reinterprets archive classics through a contemporary lens”.
Key hero pieces include the Zip-Off Sleeve Wind Jacket (£90), which takes inspiration from the track jacket Umbro produced for the England team in 1998; the Washed Drill Top (£67) and Washed Diamond Drill Sweat (£80), which directly reference the drill tops of the 1990s “embraced by players and fans alike”. They come reimagined in washed cotton with additional details including integrated pockets,
The campaign supporting the collection launch was shot by Jay Johnson and spotlights Northern Quarter’s new generation including Jefe, a socially conscious barber and former basketball player; street artist Tomas Gittins; and ‘Gone Fishing’ vintage store owner Seb Dixon.
“Each embodies the creative, entrepreneurial, and inclusive spirit of Manchester’s Northern Quarter”, notes Umbro.
The just-launched collection is available at umbro.co.uk as well as selected stockists including END, Size, Urban Outfitters and ASOS.
Fashion brand Hera has gone big with its latest collaborative partner… global soft drinks brand Pepsi. The partnership, entitled ‘Here for More,’ is a “bold celebration of both brands’ shared ambition to encourage people to be present, put enjoyment first, and strive to get more out of life”, we’re told.
As part of the collaboration comes a four-piece unisex limited-edition collection featuring hoodie and T-shirt designs, each embodying the essence of ‘Here for More.’
Each piece carries the motivational message: ‘Here for More. It all starts with your mindset. The pursuit of more’.
Designed in tonal colourways (black, grey marl, and off-white with touches of electric blue) they reflect Pepsi’s branding and Hera’s signature oversized look.
The accompanying “dynamic interactive” campaign includes exclusive interactive PR boxes, a series of pop-up events, and a visual fashion campaign that reflects Pepsi’s legacy and Hera’s bold identity.
The interactive PR boxes contain a locked ‘safe’ box containing the limited-edition hoodie, “encouraging the receiver to share their ‘Here for More’ mantra – a statement or quote that embodies a ‘More’ mindset – via social media to unlock the exclusive gift”.
The collection is being “secretly” dropped in four cities (London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow) between 20-23 March and consumers will be able to try and win the exclusive pieces from special co-endorsed vending machines.
The collaboration is described as “an organic extension of Hera’s mission: to empower individuals through fashion that speaks to ambition, confidence, and an elevated lifestyle. The ‘Here for More’ collection is also inspired by Pepsi’s ‘Thirsty for More’ purpose – to champion those who challenge convention in the pursuit of enjoyment – while embracing Hera’s distinctive style”.
Available online at heraclothing.com from 17 March, the unisex collection is priced £88 for the hoodie and £58 for the T-shirt.