Teaming up for the first time, Carhartt WIP has joined forces with Tokyo-based label F.C.Real Bristol to create a football-inspired capsule collection. Founded in 1999, F.C.Real Bristol is based on the idea of a fictional football club, rising to prominence ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan. A time when football apparel as everyday wear was not considered the norm, F.C.Real Bristol found a niche in Tokyo’s market and has gone on to form a longstanding creative partnership with Nike. Taking its name and aesthetic from the UK’s enduring ties to football culture, Bristol’s subcultures across music and fashion have informed the Japanese design team’s creative process since the beginning.

Now partnering with Carhartt WIP, the pair’s design bridges the gap between a shared love of “contemporary culture and functional design.” Performance-driven silhouettes meet functional workwear with a collection spanning apparel, accessories and football memorabilia. Stand-out pieces include varsity jackets, game shirts and shorts, fan scarves and caps, all adorned with a co-branded logo. The collection launch is marked by a series of table football tournaments taking place in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Kuala Lumpur, London, Milan, NYC, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo and Toronto from April 9th–10th.