As the spring season approaches, legendary London label STEPNEY WORKERS CLUB unveils an attractive collaboration with KARTIK RESEARCH, an artisanal brand from New Delhi. The partners have created a capsule featuring a pair of sneakers and 4 items from the KARTIK RESEARCH catalog.
Stepney Workers Club (SWC) is a progressive brand specializing in the creation of classic, functional sneakers that pay homage to the popular vulcanized models of the 50s to 80s.
Its origins lie in the Stepney Workers Sports Club, an East London sports club founded in the 1920s. It took up the slogan “Freedom of sport, Freedom of thought”, which represents anti-fascist and anti-war humanist values, linked to a time when fascism was gaining ground in Germany and Italy. This slogan refers to the brand’s values of inclusion and cultural diversity, which are also reflected in the logo: a handshake.
Kartik Research is an Indian artisanal fashion brand founded by Kartik Kumra in 2021. Its motto is “reintroducing humanity into clothing”. Each textile piece from this brand features a handmade element, making it unique and ‘imperfect’. Some items are made on hand looms and dyed with plants and herbs. Others are embellished with handmade embroidery.
The 2 brands share a common love of sport, particularly cricket.
The collaborative capsule includes a revisited S.W.C Amiel S-Strike sneaker. It comes in an ecru colorway referencing “cricket” tones, with vintage Kantha quilted fabrics by Kartik Research. The pair is adorned with colorful embroidery on the tongues, which feature asymmetrical co-branding labels. We also find mirrored circles on the back of the heel, which have become synonymous with some of Kartik Research’s key pieces.
To complete the offering, the partners offer us an ecru/red Jacquet Varsity made from vintage Kantha fabric and featuring wear marks and embroidery.
We also discover a Chore coat, a training top and track Pant, each featuring Indian production techniques, noble materials and natural design.
The Stepney Workers Club x Kartik Research collaborative capsule will be released on March 21, 2024 via partner sites stepneyworkersclub.com and kartikresearch.com, as well as at selected retailers such as END., UpThere, Packer and DSM Ginza. So get ready !
