Umbro Takes on Nostalgic Rave-Era Design with MTV Partnership

Tracing a path back to Umbro’s home city of Manchester, England, the Umbro x MTV collaboration celebrates a time when the masses, including football fans and students came together in disused warehouses, abandoned office blocks and country fields to rave together to a single unifying beat. 

Every movement has its uniform, and the rave scene saw a new oversized and androgynous aesthetic take hold. Lovingly referred to as “baggy,” the movement became part of Northern identity, bringing together influences from sportswear, club culture and workwear. The baggy looks were loose for the moves of all-night ravers, warm to keep the chill of the Northern night at bay and with a unisex appeal.  

This spring and summer, Umbro and MTV will launch a collection that combines casual sports-inspired silhouettes with a range of graphic prints and colors inspired by the ’80s and ’90s rave scene. Visual markers include a fusion logo, intertwining the Umbro and MTV brandmarks alongside a warped all-over checkerboard print. Fabrics nod to the era with a shell suit-inspired nylon crinkle plus a polyester micro-let fabric which has been a long-time go-to for Umbro kits and training wear.   

Hero styles include a coach jacket in a combination of Shaded Spruce and Brilliant White, a hoodie in Brilliant White, trackpants in Shaded Spruce/Brilliant White, a graphic T-shirt in Shaded Spruce, Brilliant White, Jade Lime or Malibu Blue, a football jersey in Shaded Spruce/Brilliant White, Malibu Blue/Fairy Wren and Jaded Lime/Flame Scarlet, a vest, swim shorts and bucket hat are also available in the same color options.  

The Umbro x MTV collection extends into footwear and accessories and includes the Copley Checkerboard Sneaker in Malibu Blue, a cap in three options of Shaded Spruce, Malibu Blue or Jaded Lime and a waistpack bag in Shaded Spruce.