ROWING BLAZERS X LA MARTINA

Our new collaboration with renowned Argentine polo brand La Martina - made in partnership with the Oxford and Cambridge university polo clubs and the historic Varsity Polo Match between them - is now available. The capsule is a celebration of the two renowned rivals, the two brands, and the sport of polo; Rowing Blazers and La Martina serve together as the official outfitters of both student clubs.

The Varsity Polo Match is an annual polo match between the Oxford University Polo Club (OUPC) and the Cambridge University Polo Club (CUPC); a nod to their school’s colors, members of both teams are traditionally known as Blues (with Oxford in dark navy blue and Cambridge in a lighter shade). The annual event - first held in 1878 - is the world’s second-oldest continuing polo match, and today continues to draw thousands of spectators to the legendary Guards Polo Club in Windsor, where it’s been held since 1994.

“JUST LIKE LA MARTINA, ROWING BLAZERS WAS FOUNDED WITH A PASSION FOR SPORT AND A DEDICATION TO AUTHENTICITY. WE DON’T PAY LIP SERVICE TO THESE THINGS. WE DON’T JUST USE THE NAME OF THE SPORT FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES - WE ARE THE REAL DEAL, AND THAT’S WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON.”

The Rowing Blazers x La Martina collection was previewed at this year’s match on Saturday, 4 June, in front of the Royal Box. (Oxford won, continuing their recent run of success; they lead the all-time series 66-57.)

“I was in the rowing team (or rather Boat Club) at Oxford,” says Rowing Blazers creative director and founder Jack Carlson. “I know what a privilege it is to compete against Cambridge in a varsity match, and it’s an honor to collaborate now with two very historic clubs. I’ve tried playing polo once or twice, and so I know how demanding it really is! Just like La Martina, Rowing Blazers was founded with a passion for sport and a dedication to authenticity. The same way we actually make the blazers for many rowing clubs, La Martina of course is the official outfitter for many of the world’s leading polo clubs. We don’t pay lip service to these things. We don’t just use the name or the sport for aesthetic purposes. We are the real deal, and that’s what we have in common.”

Family-run polo brand La Martina was founded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1985, and has been the official sponsor of the Varsity Polo Match since 2016. Like Rowing Blazers, the brand is known for its love of sport, attention to detail, emphasis on quality, and abiding respect for both history and the future wellbeing of the planet and its inhabitants. According to La Martina’s Lando Simonetti: “Our love for the game of polo is what led to the creation of the brand in Buenos Aires, merging Argentine passion with British style. Our family business is based on the very same values as the ‘sport of kings’: respect for the rules and for adversaries, a sense of honor and - above all - integrity.”

“OUR LOVE FOR THE GAME OF POLO IS WHAT LED TO THE CREATION OF LA MARTINA, MERGING ARGENTINIAN PASSION WITH BRITISH STYLE. OUR FAMILY BUSINESS IS BASED ON THE VERY SAME VALUES AS THE ‘SPORT OF KINGS’: RESPECT FOR THE RULES AND FOR ADVERSARIES, A SENSE OF HONOR AND - ABOVE ALL - INTEGRITY.”

Simonetti continues: “We started out by producing high-end polo equipment. Our brand’s DNA is still firmly rooted in polo-related sportswear: we don’t use the game to promote our brand; La Martina is polo. The brand was created and developed within the world of polo itself and for this reason, our brand aims to be a reference for polo players all over the world.”

The capsule consists of quarter-zip fleeces; rugby jerseys; loopback sweats; cotton tees; twill caps; and, of course, polos - including both team replica kits and pieced polos inspired by other historic jerseys.

The Rowing Blazers x La Martina Collection is available at both rowingblazers.com and lamartina.com.