Umbro and John Smedley hit the track together for an athletic summer by Aaron› 20 Jul 2012

Today Umbro specialises in tailoring the finest football gear, but over our 88 year history we’ve crafted clothing for many different sports, including a stint at the forefront of British athletics. A recent raid of our archives unearthed a fantastic vintage Umbro running vest and track sweater worn by British athletes in 1948, which we’ve used as inspiration for a fantastic collaboration with another iconic company.

The running vest and track sweater have been reimagined by Umbro and Matlock-based knitwear experts John Smedley, creating two smart, super-stylish pieces of clothing for a sporting summer wardrobe. The Field Sweater and the Tangeru Shirt take inspiration from the sporting world and current fashion trends, allowing you to show your patriotic support in a smart, stylish way.

When it comes to knitwear, it’s hard to beat John Smedley for experience and smart fashion sense – with over 225 years of manufacturing history, the British company probably know everything there is to know about it! As part of this collaboration, their beautifully soft, lightweight John Smedley Sea Island cotton has been used to craft these two very special items.

The Tangeru Shirt is inspired by the classic running vest discovered in the Umbro archives. With a three-button, round collar, the short sleeve tee uses a 30 gauge John Smedley Sea Island cotton that’s wonderfully soft to the touch and comfortable to wear. With patriotic red, white and blue stripes proudly displayed across the chest, the Tangeru Shirt also features a blank white fabric patch in the centre of the chest, a reference to the team patch displayed on the original design.

Alongside the Tangeru Shirt, the Field Sweater uses an original track warm up top as inspiration, crafted a modern interpretation that combine a distinct retro feel with some subtle contemporary touches. The Field Sweater is crafted from a 24 gauge John Smedley Sea Island Cotton, in dark navy blue. The sweater features concealed internal cut and sew pockets with a dark navy stitch showing on the exterior, plus a double linked rib collar, mid zip detail and ribbed cuffs and hem.

These delicate touches of detail typify this special collaboration with John Smedley, which is on sale at a number of select retailers and here on Umbro.com from July 27th. Bringing two of the finest British brands together for a special summer, these two very special pieces will certainly add a smart athletic look to any wardrobe this summer.

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