While the term may be newly ubiquitous, athleisure is not a new concept. Sports apparel has been a key element of streetwear since its infancy in hip-hop culture, dating back to when tracksuits were the go-to b-boy garb. However this industry buzzword now often comes with a negative connotation, where people imagine someone in a down jacket and tights headed to brunch, rather than the gym.
For Belgian-born, New York-based designer Tim Coppens, this area of fashion is more than just about being comfortable but about being productive and efficient. Melding aesthetics with innovation has always been paramount to Coppens, from his days at Ralph Lauren’s RLX division to his namesake label, so when Under Armour decided to launch its own street-minded sportswear imprint, hiring the talented Royal Academy of Fine Arts graduate was the obvious choice.
Fast forward to just a few weeks ago, Tim Coppens and Under Armour unveiled their very first collection for UAS (Under Armour Sportswear) during New York Fashion Week. “Designed for the ambitious and driven by the desire to go longer, work harder, and move faster,” UAS blends functionality and material innovations with fashion-forward aesthetics.
HYPEBEAST was granted the rare opportunity to interview Coppens the night before his NYFW show. In the video above, he talks about how UAS came about, goals for the brand, inspirations behind the presentation and more.
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