ROWING BLAZERS X K-SWISS: WEARING IS BELIEVING

Our new collaboration with heritage American tennis brand K-Swiss is now available. The colorful, ’90s-inspired capsule borrows from Rowing Blazers creative director and founder Jack Carlson’s personal collection of vintage K-Swiss apparel, and includes an updated special edition of the iconic Si-18 sneaker.

“I’VE BEEN WEARING K-SWISS SINCE I WAS A KID, AND THE SI-18 IS AN ICONIC TENNIS SHOE IN A WAY THAT JUST A SMALL NUMBER OF SNEAKERS ARE TRULY IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR. SO THIS COLLABORATION IS VERY MEANINGFUL FOR ME. ALTHOUGH ROWING BECAME MY MAIN SPORT, TENNIS WAS ALWAYS MY PASSION.”

“I’ve been wearing K-Swiss since I was a kid, and the Si-18 is an iconic tennis shoe in a way that just a small number of sneakers are truly important in the history of athletic footwear,” explains Jack. “So this collaboration is very meaningful for me. I wanted to use a very wearable ’90s palette, and I was inspired by the tennis gear I collected growing up, going to the Open, and attending tennis camps. Although rowing became my main sport, tennis was always my passion.”

Scott Boulton, Global Vice President of Trend and Energy for K-Swiss, adds: “It’s been an honor to work with Jack and Rowing Blazers on this capsule and on the special edition of the Si-18 sneaker. I think it’s been very personal for both of us. Our motto is to ‘look back, live forward’, and this collection pillars K-Swiss’ ethos.”

The unisex collection includes a ’90s-inspired graphic pullover windbreaker; a white French terry crewneck sweatshirt with chenille tennis balls; nylon shorts in bright pink and white; black and off-white cotton twill caps in a retro five-panel silhouette; a black cotton tee; and a special edition of the Si-18 Premier sneaker designed by Carlson and featuring a ’90s palette and collaborative branding.

 

K-Swiss was founded in 1966 after Swiss brothers Art and Ernie Brunner had emigrated to “Kalifornia” (hence the name of the brand). Although imagined as a tennis brand, the brothers - both avid skiers - took early inspiration from their alpine roots: namely, leather ski boots’ ability to support aggressive side-to-side movement. In 1966, they released the world’s first all-leather tennis shoe, The K-Swiss Classic, which quickly became an on- and off-court sensation worldwide.

The Si-18 Premier sneaker was first introduced in 1989, and represents K-Swiss’s dedication to honoring athletic heritage while optimizing performance. Rowing Blazers’ take on the award-winning style combines classic K-Swiss elements, such as asymmetric single-density PU midsoles; the famous D-R Cinch lacing system (another K-Swiss innovation inspired by vintage ski boots); and the Silicone Formula 18, groundbreaking when the Si-18 first came out, for which the shoe is named - all of which combine to provide unmatched comfort and support in a timeless and unmistakable silhouette. 

The Rowing Blazers x K-Swiss “Wearing is Believing” collection is available now at both rowingblazers.com and kswiss.com.