UACTP MADE IN USA COLLECTION : A CONVERSATION WITH JAMES BOND
UACTP (Undefeated Athletic Club) unveils a new ‘Made in USA’ Collection positioned to disrupt traditional gym-inspired athletic wear. UACTP is an extension of the UNDEFEATED legacy, based in the heart of Los Angeles, CA. The ‘Made in USA’ collection is built on the fundamental principles of wrestling, jujitsu, and weight training, reimagined in 2018 when Undefeated Athletic Club first opened its training facility. The training and wellness philosophy of UACTP, rooted in real-world applications, shapes the design and execution of this new apparel line. UACTP's method for strength and conditioning mirrors the elevated standards of the athletes they cater to and the products they provide. The fabrics and construction are straightforward, well-crafted, and carefully thought out for everyday use. The collection showcases classic athletic wear with a uniquely crafted fit and fabrics meant to be worn-in over time. This collection is a durable and timeless uniform for action, inspired by utilitarian and vintage sportswear. A testament to the brand's philosophy of strength, resilience, and unwavering quality.
With the UACTP ‘Made in USA’ available from Saturday, January 20, 2024 at UACTP.com, UACTP #001 in Los Angeles, CA and at select global UNDEFEATED Chapter Stores we caught up with Undefeated and UACTP co-founder and co-owner James Bond to discuss the finer elements of the collection.
A CONVERSATION WITH JAMES BOND
What was the catalyst to focus on ‘Made in USA’ for UACTP? Can you please talk about the concept of the collection?
The concept was what we wore in high school when we trained and to this day I still wear cotton t-shirts on the mat as well as fleece and mesh shorts. The memory of those materials and what they meant to young athletes of “my” era brings back great memories. I find that the UACTP archetype and main consumer in our gym touches back to that era to influence their daily gym style so Zach Neminsky (UACTP creative director) and I along with Canon focused on those pillars of fashion to craft the Made in USA collection. You will find durable heavyweight fleece, cotton t-shirts, mesh shorts and base layers for real time training along with GI’s.
Can you please go into some detail about the process of design and manufacturing for the collection? What are the defining elements of the collection?
The process started with Zach coming in with a concept based on a photo he found to reference the rebuild of the gym infrastructure, being into both jujitsu and wrestling and the resurgence of wrestling to help jujitsu. The story was based off of wrestling clubs in the midwest so we went with cotton t-shirts, heavyweight fleece and nylon shorts since most clubs and team budgets aren’t very big you have to use found materials or what easily available within tight budgets. Cotton and mesh are easily sourced so we utilised US factories to make the collection in those materials and athletic cut so the bodies are full and cut so you can move freely both in training on the mat and in the gym, stretching or lifting. We’ve included base layers and GI’s along with a few accessories to round out your kit bag
How does the UACTP ‘Made in USA’ Collection represent the direction and vision of UACTP at this moment in time?
The vision has always been to come in and find your best self every time you walk in the gate. Keep it simple and we did the same with the collection, what make us unique in life, it’s in the small details and the what you digest from our environment and make your own we hope to see people grab the pieces they see fit them best and add to their daily routine.
What is the focus for the ‘Made in USA’ initiative going forward? How do you want to build on this from here on in?
Going forward we'll keep adding to the foundation and over time you’ll find a nice collection of made in USA pieces in our collection….
