Story by: Chloe Dewberry
When XXBC, the NYC-based brand known for making the sweatsuit cool again, gets together with Marcus Paul, the stylist that gets Pusha T and Lebron James ready for the cameras, in honor of Storm Copenhagen’s 20th Anniversary, pure fashion goodness obviously ensues. For the past two decades, Storm Copenhagen has been leading the Denmark fashion scene with conceptual designer collections and exclusive stock. With Storm’s ever increasing international presence, it only made sense that the creative minds of Alex Lee and Will Thompson, the two stylish dudes behind XXBC, and Marcus would join together to celebrate the birthday of the conceptual retail space.
The collection includes a limited run of one-of-a-kind sweatshirts made out of signature deadstock fabrics and vintage prints. As if one cozy sweatshirt wasn’t enough to get you to grab your credit card, each piece comes in a specially designed box that can be used to store, well, whatever the hell you want. The XXBC x Marcus Paul collaboration drops on the Storm Copenhagen site on August 6th and is sure to cater to all your high-end sweatshirt needs. Check out some looks from the collection below.
From Complex.com Words by Teofilo Killip
Copenhagen concept shop Storm has been putting Europeans onto forward-thinking styles for quite some time. Now, it’s celebrating its 20th anniversary and has cooked up a collab with XXBC, in partnership with interior designer and stylist Marcus Paul, on next-level sweats worthy of gracing the shop’s shelves. The custom box it comes in isn’t too shabby either.
XXBC was launched in 2012 by designers Alex Lee and Will Thompson, and provides a whole new take on the cozy boy movement, adding unique panels to sweats. This collaboration is no different. Deadstock vintage textiles spiked with paisley and floral motifs are found in the paneling details of a total of 24 sweaters. The antique fabric doesn’t stop at the sweaters, though, because each will come in a box wrapped in embroidered fabric. You’re truly getting a one-of-a-kind item.
These sweatshirts will be available on the Storm website starting Aug. 6. No plane ticket to Copenhagen needed.
All images via XXBC/Vinny Picone
Check out some additional press for Marcus Paul and XXBC here:
HighSnobiety.com by Alec Leach
Coolhunting.com by David Graver
CreolBrothers.cover.dk article by Mads Emil
The famed stylist lends his eye to the concept store’s 20th anniversary design
Coolhunting.com by David Graver
For two decades, Denmark’s fashion and lifestyle shop Storm has pioneered conceptual retail—ultimately defining style crazes and building a strong international reputation. To celebrate their anniversary, Storm has united NYC streetwear brand XXBC and celebrated stylist Marcus Paul. The result is a high-quality collection of 24 unique sweatshirts crafted from vintage textiles. Meticulously thought out, unlike anything else around and complete with hand-embroidered antique fabric boxes, they are as much a reflection of artistry as they are functional, comfy sweaters.
On his involvement with the project, Paul—the project’s creative director—explains to CH that it all began from a friendship with Storm’s owner Rasmus Storm. “[Storm] has always been on the forefront of fashion for breaking labels and having a well-curated selection. As for XXBC, I’m good friends with Will (one of the co-founders) who later introduced me to his partner Alex. They have great unique products that definitely caught my eye. I wanted to create something special for Storm’s 20th anniversary—and here we are.”
In many ways, entering the world of apparel is a natural extension of Paul’s other work, including styling Jay-Z and LeBron James. “I’m extremely passionate when it comes to my craft and I love designing; whether it is clothing or interior design. In addition, when I approach any project, I seek a timeless and lasting approach where things can be appreciated 10 to 20 years from now. I think that’s missing in the fast times we are currently living in.”
At the core of the design, one-of-a-kind vintage materials inject floral patterning into swathes of lush gray—all of which the team sourced, and Paul maintains secretive about. “We can’t reveal all our formulas, but I will say that Alex and Will are specialist when it comes to sourcing vintage. We searched high and low for the best vintage fabrications from the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. It took time to curate the selection, but we believe the result was worth the effort.” No two pieces in the collection are the same, though all of them are bound by the masterful team and their vision of something beyond the usual sweatshirt. It’s an appropriate anniversary line for an organization that’s strayed from the norm for 20 years now.
XXBC + Marcus Paul collaborative sweatshirts are available online at Storm, on 6 August 2014, where they will retail for $525.