Quiet Confidence
Range Rover & SHARP
Reigning Champ’s collections are simply timeless — with the emphasis on “simply.”
Launching in 2007, the Vancouver, B.C.-based sportswear brand stepped onto the scene with one goal: To master simplicity. For Reigning Champ, that meant crafting world-class athletic wear that didn’t compromise when it came to materials, craftsmanship and manufacturing methods.
Every part of the development process is guided by deep respect for the craft. “We are makers first,” says Mike Belgue, Director, Brand, and Marketing at Reigning Champ. “Coming from our history of making product, first for the Japanese market and then for some of the most significant brands in the early days of streetwear, we saw an opportunity to lean into athletic-wear staples from our point of view — starting with the raw materials and then focusing on the make, with those two things being the catalyst for final form.”
Reigning Champ’s clothing, and the brand itself, oozes a quiet confidence. With two locations in Vancouver, three in Toronto and one in Tokyo, its collections include the essentials: Classic, Performance, and Sportswear concepts featuring a timeless colour palette. You’re less likely to find trends-du-jour and more likely to find staples for your wardrobe that’ll last a lifetime.
Which is exactly what Reigning Champ knows its client-base is looking for: “Reigning Champ appeals to those who look for quality first, with a quiet, considered and timeless point of view,” says Belgue.
Every item starts with inspiration drawn from fabric — its canvas, according to the brand. Its selections are deliberate, ranging from jersey and terry that offer exceptional comfort with substantial structure, to its trademarked Delta and DeltaPeak that were created to support mobility with fast-drying technology that’ll withstand any workout in all temperature conditions.
“All of our most beloved fabrics that turned into product franchises were originally developed by us,” says Belgue. With design and longevity in mind, the development process is infused with the idea of restraint — only what’s needed and nothing more, leading with quiet purpose, accounting for nuances of function, comfort, aesthetic and fit.
That intuition and obsession with offering nothing besides top-shelf quality ensure Reigning Champ stands out as a leader in its category, according to Belgue.
Reigning Champ is led by a team of creators who are passionate about two things: details and the culture of sport — the essence of what the brand is all about. And while its founder and CEO, Craig Atkinson, brings over four decades of experience to the brand, Belgue is quick to point out that this isn’t necessarily something Reigning Champ likes to call attention to, leaning on the simple, quiet confidence of its mission.
“We tend to let our product and brand do the talking, opting to keep a low profile,” he says.
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