LOOPED

BRAND CLASHING DONE RIGHT

By Nic Hayman, April 11, 2017

When it comes to sportswear, it was once considered sacrilege to stray from single-brand loyalty. Whether you were Team Trefoil or a disciple of The Swoosh, nothing else would hang in your wardrobe or sit on your shoe rack. But rules are made to be broken.

With the sportswear obsession spreading from the streetwear scene to the front row (s/o Skepta), brand clashing has transitioned from faux pas to power move in 2017. Here’s how to pull it off.

Don’t rock rivals

When it comes to pitting two brands off against each other, it’s best to make sure they’re happy bedfellows. Be sure to steer away from brands with a history of beef — Adi Dassler didn’t freeze out his brother for you to clash Superstars with PUMA joggers. Reebok and adidas are an ideal combo, considering they’re both run out of the same building.

6-inch-rule

If you go for the double-up on logos, it’s best to leave them some space to breathe. Layering multiple branded pieces on your torso might leave you looking a little top-heavy, so try to spread the love throughout your outfit for a better balance.

Size matters

Never be afraid to go big on the branding — the bolder the better when it comes to throwback sportswear. But if you go hard on one piece, you’d do well to stay on the subtler side of things with the rest. Think of it like a balloon — cram in too much and it’ll blow up in your face.

Pictures: Vicky Grout

If in doubt, leave it out

If you’re unsure on how far to push the brand clash, it’s probably too far. Incorporating a logo-less piece into a sportswear look is always a safe bet — nobody needs to see how many names you can fit into one ’fit.