A new H&M athleisure wear range is to be launched in July, developed with input from the Swedish Olympic team and fronted by personalities including Caitlyn Jenner.
The launch of For Every Victory makes H&M one of the first major multinational fashion brands to make a serious foray into the booming athleisure wear market, to date dominated by fast-growing specialist brands including Lululemon, UnderArmour and 2XU.
H&M For Every Victory – described by the H&M as “high fashion performance sportswear made to inspire” has been developed with input from the Swedish Olympic team, and the campaign is fronted by inspirational personalities who have all achieved their own victories, whether in sport or life.
The athletes advised on design, performance and wearability. H&M also designed outfits for the Swedish Olympic and Paralympic team for Rio 2016, including the opening ceremony uniform, selected competition pieces and the prize ceremony outfits.
“This is a collection about performance with great style and the input of the Swedish Olympic team has been invaluable in the creation process,” said Pernilla Wohlfahrt, design and creative director at H&M. “The result is high fashion technical sports pieces for everyone to wear.”
The For Every Victory collection has a similar visual expression and technical knowledge to the Swedish Olympic team collection, with its own colour palette in black, grey, dusty pink and gold. It is centered on performance T-shirts, running shorts and leggings, as well as sports bras for women.
The quick-drying, breathable materials help to optimise performance and recycled polyesters prove that high-function sportswear can also be conscious and more sustainable − all showing that there’s no compromise on either fashion or performance.
Among the personalities fronting the new range are Caitlyn Jenner with her Olympic gold medal in the decathlon; Chelsea Werner, a gymnast who has never let Down Syndrome halt her progress; surfer Mike Coots who still takes to his board even though he lost his leg in a shark attack and boxer Namibia Flores who has fought against prejudice to pursue her dreams.
The new range and brand will be launched globally on July 21.
