-By Pratyasha Sarkar
Rapha has previously used that strategy, collaborating with Paul Smith earlier this year on a combined bike line.
The nine-piece capsule combines Rapha’s “cycling apparel and off-bike stylings” with Shrimps’ “signature playful patterns and whimsical designs” to create a boundary-blurring aesthetic for those not scared to stand out, which is considerably different from the previous creative collaboration.
In actuality, that implies things like a Wind Jacket with adjustable arms, a Ponytail helmet with a removable Shrimps ribbon, a Cropped Zip Tank, or a Long Sleeve Jersey, among other things.
Although both men and women are targeted by the Paul Smith line, this time the brands have developed a different perspective, infusing quirky elements in the cycling apparel aesthetic.
Neon green, cornflour blue, and the camel/brown Shrimps gingham are all featured in the colour scheme. This generates contrast with the grapevine print we’ve used throughout the collection, Shrimps said, giving you the impression of being in an Italian vineyard.
The collection aims to “transcend the conventional boundaries of cycling apparel, pushing the limits of what it currently is,” according to Agata Jasinska, Rapha Womenswear Designer. By combining our brands, we hope to create something wholly unexpected by blending Rapha’s expertise in on-bike performance with Shrimps’ signature feminine and whimsical aesthetic. Our goal was to close the gap between on-bike apparel and lifestyle clothes, as well as between athletics and fashion.
Infusing Shrimps’ recognisable expressive and happy patterns into our functional materials, we have set out on a mission to rethink traditional on-bike silhouettes through our joint exploration. These prints are a colourful celebration of the unadulterated joy and freedom of cycling.
Hannah Weiland, the founder and creative director of Shrimps, further stated that she was inspired by “a wine tasting cycling tour I went on through the Tuscan vineyards a few years ago.” What first drew me to cycling was the idea of cycling while indulging—stopping for a glass of wine or a serving of ice cream while admiring the Italian countryside.
