Todd Snyder is giving a major upgrade to the football fan gear space.
The designer has teamed with the National Football League and Fanatics to create the Todd Snyder + NFL Collection, a limited-edition premium assortment of fan gear for the New York Giants, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
The collection features 100 percent cashmere coaches’ jackets, made in the U.S., as well as cashmere rugby shirts, sweaters and sweatshirts. There are also oversize fleece hoodies and mock neck shirts made in Canada. The bulk of the collection will be available on Fanatics beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday with an edited selection of New York Giants and Jets styles also available on the Todd Snyder site. Varsity jackets will be available in early January.
Prices are higher than most fan products with jersey mock T-shirts retailing for $128, sweatshirts at $268 and $1,500 for a cashmere letterman jacket. But the prices are justified by the quality of the collection and its materials, the partners believe.
Specifically, the coaches’ jackets are made from recycled Italian cashmere that was fused rather than sewn and finished with chenille patches on the chest and sleeve as well as a felt appliqué zigzag on the back.
The rugby shirts feature a waffle stitch with traditional rugby stripes, a chenille team patch on the chest, overlock stitching and a vented step hem.
The hoodie is reminiscent of vintage varsity styles from the ‘80s and ‘90s with a double-layered, drawstring-free hood, chenille logo patches on the chest and sleeve and ribbed trim. It was cut-and-sewn at WS, a family-owned factory outside Toronto that has been making Todd Snyder product for some 15 years. The fit is relaxed and boxy with a slight taper at the waist.
The New York Giants and Jets were among the five teams featured in the collection.
Courtesy of Todd Snyder
Snyder said the collegiate references in the line “play off old traditional sports” and were influenced by vintage photos he discovered during his research for the collection. “When pro football started, it had a real collegiate feel,” he said.
For Snyder, who has become famous for his collaborations, this one is a dream realized. “I love sports and I always look for the intersection between sports and fashion and blurring those lines,” he said. “We’ve taken classic fan gear and reinvented it with luxe materials and modern tailoring, from Italian cashmere rugby shirts to coaches’ jackets made in the USA by Golden Bear. It’s about celebrating team spirit with a sense of refinement.
“While my football playing days may be behind me, my love for the game continues,” he added. “Partnering with Fanatics was a natural choice. They’ve revolutionized how fans connect with their teams, and we saw an opportunity to merge their innovation in sports apparel with our dedication to quality and design. Together, we’re offering our customers fan gear that feels as at home on the runway as it does in the stadium.”
The Todd Snyder + NFL Collection is premium priced.
Courtesy of Todd Snyder
Snyder said he had been friends for years with Joe Monahan, president of Fanatics Brands, and they started talking a couple of years ago about working together. “I had dabbled in some things with the NBA, but his furthers the idea,” he said. “And Fanatics is the juggernaut for this kind of product, they dominate in sports.”
“Our ultimate goal is to create a world-class experience for our fans, full of options across many different categories, price points and styles,” Monahan said. “This new, luxury collection from Todd Snyder — one of the preeminent, American menswear designers today — is the perfect addition to our assortment and showcases our commitment to bringing new, nontraditional designs into the fan apparel space.”
The merchandise has an traditional feel.
Courtesy of Todd Snyder
Ryan Samuelson, vice president of consumer products at the NFL, also weighed in: “Crafted with the fan in mind, this collection is a tribute to craftsmanship and functionality. By blending the timeless design of Todd Snyder with the league’s iconic brand, we elevated our fashion essentials for fans to showcase their fandom in a distinguished and stylish way for gameday and beyond.”
Snyder said he hopes this partnership will continue and he can eventually add more teams to the offering. “It’s meant to be very limited edition and super special, so we’ll see how it goes.”
