Heritage apparel brand, Champion has collaborated with Fnatic on a capsule collection fusing together the worlds of fashion and esports.
The limited-edition collection is comprised of four hoodie designs, each inspired by the ancient elemental concepts of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. With a drop of just 400 hoodies, the elements represent different playing styles and character personalities commonly found in the world’s most popular games.
Representing each of the themes is an entourage of Fnatic ambassadors bringing their own flavour to the capsule collection from a variety of mediums including music and gaming.
Embodying the Water faction is Che Lingo, one of South London’s most credible musical names. With his critically acclaimed, award nominated album “The Worst Generation” (released on Idris Elba’s 7Wallace Label), a litany of tracks featured in leading games such as FIFA 22 and NBA2K, and featuring thrice on the Jujutsu Kaisen Anime Soundtrack; Che’s vocals will be familiar to regular gamers.
Talking on the importance of self-expression in creative formats, Che Lingo commented “Making music and finding new ways to present real tangible stories is what drives me creatively. The pathways can seem linear a lot of the time, so being able to speak my truth and continuously reshape the landscape is exciting, not just for myself, but also adds to the innovation we all seek.
“There is a huge crossover of this in the gaming space, which is why this collection carves out a positive space for players to bring their virtual personas into a real-life forum and genuinely engage beyond the screen.”
Fronting the Earth element is Jay-Ann Lopez, CEO and Founder of Black Girl Gamers™; an online safe space and platform that heightens the visibility of Black Women in Gaming and advocates for Diversity & Inclusion.
In a statement on fashion and gaming Jay-Ann Lopez said “Fashion has always juxtaposed with gaming but it’s something that many gamers from all walks of life enjoy. Fnatic’s collaboration with Champion is taking an exciting step in carving out a space for people to unite over a shared love of gaming and fashion.”
The Fire element is respresented by Tekkz, a FIFA pro-player champion for Fnatic, often referred to as the Lewis Hamilton of FIFA. Taking the lead for team Air is Boaster, a Fnatic gaming superstar famous for his stage presence and high-level skill within Valorant.
The intersection between gaming and fashion is a concept the esports company consistently explores. Fnatic Founder, Sam Matthews said in a statement “Bridging the gap between fashion and gaming is something we’re intent on exploring. The Champion x Fnatic collaboration is our opportunity to give back to the gaming community by giving fans different ways to express their virtual fandoms in the real world too.”
