American Eagle is teaming with Russell Athletic for a sport-inspired collaboration.
The collection features premium 450 gsm (grams per square meter) fleece with a peached face, brushed interior and slight stretch. Many pieces were developed using vintage Russell references to stay true to original fits and construction, with such details as hidden phone pockets, recreated vintage hardware, matched drawcords, and a signature double-bar stripe.
The color palette, inspired by Russell’s roots in university sportswear, is bright and collegiate.
Among the pieces are heavyweight fleece sets, fleece Henley hoodie, heavy AE T-shirt and matching heavyweight jersey shorts, porthole mesh football jersey inspired by an archival Russell piece, and stadium jacket, cardigan and gym-ready accessories.
Retail prices range from $14.95 to $104.95.
Jennifer Foyle, president, executive creative director of American Eagle and Aerie, noted that over the years AE has done extensive work with individual athlete-founded brands and sportswear-inspired brands.
“Our most recent collaboration with Travis Kelce’s sportswear and lifestyle brand, Tru Kolors, was over a year in the making and demonstrates the success of merging sports culture with fashion,” said Foyle. “This new collaboration with Russell Athletic accelerates that — celebrating the heritage and quality of both our brands while leveraging a shared love of sports culture.”
Asked why she selected Russell Athletic as its partner, Foyle said, “I am most excited about the synergy in our brands’ values. Both AE and Russell have an incredible American heritage, commitment to quality, and a genuine connection to sports culture. When you combine Russell’s decades of influence with AE’s strength in fabrication, fit and youth culture, the result feels both nostalgic and new.”
She noted that Russell is the originator of the modern sweatshirt. “They’re a brand with real substance, real history, and real credibility in the worlds our customer cares about: sport, campus culture, and classic American style. Their archive gave us an opportunity to create something authentically rooted in the past, yet built for today’s quiet-comfort moment in fashion. Their iconic American sportswear is unmatched, and this partnership allows us to tap into that authentic nostalgia, while bringing it to Gen Z in a fresh, stylish way.”
For now, they’re only focused on this first collection. “But as with any partnership, we’ll let the customer response guide how it evolves from here,” she said.
When asked what Russell has that AE couldn’t do on its own, Foyle said, “This collaboration is all about harnessing the magic of what happens when two iconic, American brands come together to make something even stronger.”
The collection will be available in more than 500 American Eagle locations and online at ae.com.
As for what Russell got out of the partnership, Scott Daley, senior vice presidents of brands, Fruit of the Loom Inc. (which owns Russell Athletic), said, “Russell Athletic revolutionized athletic wear over a century ago with the invention of the sweatshirt — a tradition of innovation that now meets the future of fashion. The collaboration with American Eagle honors that rich history while bringing it forward for today’s generation.
“Every piece in this collection — sweats, Ts, outerwear, and accessories — draws inspiration from our authentic sports heritage and pairs it with American Eagle’s modern fashion sensibility. It’s a celebration of timeless design, comfort and craftsmanship, reimagined for a new generation of customers,” said Daley.
Some looks from the American Eagle x Russell Athletic collaboration.
Courtesy of American Eagle
A look from the American Eagle x Russell Athletic collaboration.
Courtesy of American Eagle
It’s been a busy fall and holiday season for American Eagle, which has raised its profile with pitchwomen ranging from Sydney Sweeney to Martha Stewart.
For the third quarter ended Nov. 1, American Eagle’s net income rose 6.7 percent to $91.34 million, up from $80 million in the year-ago period. Total revenue grew 6 percent in the third quarter to a record $1.36 billion, driven by a total comparable sales increase of 4 percent. At the American Eagle brand, comparable sales rose 1 percent, as reported.
