Salehe Bembury for Canada Goose & NBA; An Exploration of Play, Nostalgia, and Magic

Photo via Canada Goose

Canada Goose has brought in Salehe Bembury to collaborate on their multi-year partnership with the NBA. This capsule collection, made up of only a few pieces, intends to explore style without rules. It is inspired by the style of the NBA in the 90s, and is brought to life in a playful way that only Bembury could deliver. 

Bembury, a master at his craft, strives to create experience through this collection. To emphasize the importance of play, Bembury and Canada Goose have created a series of three short films altogether titled Play In the Open, a stop motion celebration of play, adventure, and the outdoors. 

Salehe Bembury, known for his sneaker designs, has made his first foray into outerwear. The collection itself is functional, clearly intended for winter outdoor play. Made up of a parka, a vest, a snowsuit, and a fleece. This small collection still makes an impact with bold colors and patterns that clearly reference the 90s. 

Photo via Canada Goose

These products are clearly made with deep care and craft. Thought and desire for exploration are evident throughout, made clear through Play In The Open. The films, in a way, are even more important than the clothing itself; they show, in a literal sense, the magic of playfulness that is often felt through sportswear (Bembury gives the example of wearing basketball shoes and feeling like you can dunk). 

As a great appreciator of art as a driving force in fashion design, this capsule collection is all I can ask for. It balances creativity with function, allowing the collection to serve the wearer however they may want it to, instead of vice versa.

Photo via Canada Goose