Celebrating the vibrant essence of being a sports fan in 2024, the visionary founder of clothsurgeon has teamed up with Snapchat to create an exclusive, limited-edition bomber jacket. All proceeds from this exciting collaboration will go to Youth Sport Trust, a leading and impactful grassroots national children’s charity. This eye-catching jacket showcases Rav’s distinctive and innovative style, incorporating a rich blend of inspirations into a single, remarkable garment.
Matharu’s masterful design pays tribute to several iconic British sports. The jacket’s bold black-and-yellow striped lining honours rugby, the intricate cable-knit hem and collars are inspired by the traditional cricket jumper, the plush French terry sleeve cuffs acknowledge tennis, and the unique removable captain’s armband is a nod to football.
View the bomber jacket below…
Speaking on the partnership, the jacket and the importance of sport for communities Rav shares “The clothsurgeon x Snapchat bomber embodies passion for sports, community and craftsmanship. We are equally at home with all and have huge admiration for the beautiful games that bring people together from all over the world. A universal fan language, that is cultivated and celebrated through communities, like the one on Snapchat.”
We spoke with Rav about Snapchat’s insightful research, which highlights the growing connection between sports and popular culture, including the rise of blokette and bloke-core styles. He shared insights into his meticulous creative process for the bomber jacket and discussed the influence of sports on his innovative designs and the fashion industry as a whole.
Read the interview…
Hey Rav! How’s it going?
It’s going great! It’s an extremely exciting time at the brand, after opening the store on Savile Row almost two years ago, the identity of the brand has truly formed. We’ve spent our 13-year existence laying the foundations, with a heavy focus on craftsmanship and contemporary menswear, merging the two worlds of streetwear/sportswear and tailoring, and now we’re building the clothsurgeon fashion house. A new approach to modern British luxury.
How did the partnership with Snapchat originate?
The team at Snapchat reached out to discuss creating a piece of clothing that demonstrates what it means to be a sports fan today, and reinforce how this no longer has to mean supporting just one team, or liking only one sport.
As soon as I heard the message, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of, given I myself am a big sports fan.
We wanted to amplify this notion of sport being the great unifier, and how there’s such a broad spectrum when it comes to sports fans.
It’s such a great time to be a fan too – with this summer being a mega line-up of celebrations, from the Euros, to Wimbledon and now the Olympics and Paralympics. I love the fact Snapchat is somewhere all different kinds of sports fans can call home, no matter who they are or what sport they’re interested in.
Could you run us through your creative process generally? And your creative process when creating this bomber jacket?
My creative process begins with a question; how do I refine and elevate each initial idea? This involves considering every part of the garment from fabrication, silhouette, fit and detailing.
With the clothsurgeon x Snapchat bomber jacket, I wanted to take something iconic from a range of different sports, that would build the final garment. For example, the sleeve cuffs are made of French terry sweatband material, in a nod to fans of tennis. It also features a removable captain’s armband in bright, Snapchat yellow – inspired by the beautiful football game, and a black and yellow striped lining paying homage to traditional rugby shirts.
The idea was to create something iconic enough that we could simply say, it’s a jacket celebrating sports from various cultures, and people would be able to work out the references.
How does the jacket aim to celebrate a new, more inclusive era of sports fandom?
Snapchat conducted research that showed previously, non-sports fans have felt like they needed to meet a certain criteria in order to ‘fit in’ to the world of sport. And for lots of young people, they grew up believing they needed to be passionately invested in one particular sport, athlete or team to be considered a true ‘fan’.
Interest in sport is always rising through generations, as well as the online connections that are brought about from being a sports fan. People are realising that sports fandom is for everyone – regardless of who you are.
And that’s where we come in, creating a unique piece of clothing that celebrates the different sports communities that exist today, and how these are playing out online. We want our jacket to unite anyone and everyone in a shared love of sports.
When designing the jacket, I took inspiration from the sports I was surrounded by, and played in my childhood growing up in the UK. I wanted to create something that I, as a sports fan, would love to wear, and we definitely landed on that.
How do you feel about Snapchat’s new research stating over a third of Gen Z feeling that sportswear-inspired fashion has increased their interest in sport over the last year?
It’s incredible that there is such a growing connection between fashion and sport, and the domination of sports-inspired fashion trends is increasing sports interest in a more diverse audience.
I feel strongly that encouraging Gen-Z to take more interest in sport is a good thing, it can be so important for building connections and community – some that will remain for life.
Playing sport also builds great characteristics, working as an individual, teammate, discipline, resilience and hard work, for me it’s an essential part of growing up and communicating effectively.
In what way has the influence of sports in fashion played a role in your designs?
Sports has been and always will be a huge part of my life, football was my first love! I played professional football for my hometown club Leeds United, and also played cricket to a good standard.
Football boots were my first product obsession that slowly developed into sneakers, and Jordans! It was so bizarre an 8-year-old kid who knows nothing about basketball or Michael can be so mesmerised by a shoe! My next transition was into apparel and tracksuits and how to style them, so it looked different to your team mate. I have never wanted to conform, there was a strong need to be original from a young age.
This is what I love about the Bespoke tier of our business, we allow the customer to express and elevate their personal style, expertly guided by us.
We have a strong inclusion of sportswear within our collection, from fabric to shapes. It’s very apparent in all the collections we have created in the past 13 years.
How do you see the relationship between fashion and sports evolving in the next few years?
It’s only going to get stronger in my opinion, I feel so many more luxury brands will directly reference sport and have more ambassadors from the sports world. It’s great to see talented athletes and sports personalities who have dedicated their lives to their passion, such as Carlos Alcaraz, Bukayo Saka and Serena Williams being celebrated on the fashion stage.
What advice would you give to young designers looking to innovate at the intersection of fashion and sports?
For young designers eager to innovate at the crossroads of fashion and sports, my advice is to immerse yourself in comprehensive research. Exploring subjects will expand your knowledge but also help you carve out a distinct voice in your design work and approach.
Consider various pathways your research might lead you into: perhaps you’ll focus on a functional, technical approach, crafting gear that enhances performance. Maybe you’ll venture into creating innovative designs that stand out in both functionality and aesthetics. Or, you might develop lifestyle pieces that capture the spirit and emotion of sports through an artistic lens. It’s important to offer a unique design language that is both innovative and deeply personal.
We’re in the midst of a summer of sport right now. What has been your highlight so far?
So far, I think it has to be India’s world T20 win. Indian cricket fans are some of the most passionate in the world!
