FIGHTING FIT

SS22

Nigel Cabourn has teamed up with heritage sporting label Umbro for an exciting second collaboration honouring classic British sportswear.

The SS22 'Fighting Fit' collection combines Umbro’s roots as one of England’s iconic sporting labels with Nigel Cabourn’s passion for collecting military uniforms and vintage sportswear. The collection takes a more retro approach with influences from old school Umbro silhouettes and sports uniforms worn by The Army Physical Training Corps during WWII.

From the beginning, Umbro has pioneered the sports tailoring industry. With their innovative kit designs they have been a forerunner in high performance apparel since their creation in 1924.

Although well known for its sportswear manufacturing, there was a time during WWII that production came to a halt and the Umbro factory switched from manufacturing sportswear to Army supplies including military uniforms and providing internal fabric cladding for the production of Spitfires.

Originally created as part of the military reforms instigated as a result of the Crimean War, the Army Physical Training Corps were responsible for developing and maintaining physical fitness across the army so that individuals and units were prepared for the military tasks ahead.

During the war, the Army Physical Training Corps played a key role in developing fitness across the newly recruits most with no prior training.

The Corps had to rapidly develop a new training programme in order to quickly adapt to new, flexible and creative training methods. Exercises included completing assault courses, carrying heavy ammunition and exercising with 250-pound logs. Taken from A.P.T.C training methods, Nigel to this day, incorporates throwing medicine balls in his own fitness routines

Looking specifically at the Army Physical Training Corps 'Instructors' offering a slightly more formal look and 'The Recruit' as the more classic sportswear look; this fantastic 9x piece capsule collection features track tops, sweats, polo shirts and shorts in both cotton drill and cotton loopback jersey in a variety of colours.