Freedom Reigns celebrates the summer Olympics this season with its all-new World Champion Collection. Inspired by the flags of leading nations, the line features an assortment of briefs, tanks, tees, jackets and shorts, all coordinating with uniquely bold color combinations set against its patented multi-stripe red, white and blue elastic waist band.
“Like the athletes we design for, Freedom Reigns is a leader in its playing field”, says Curtis Stallard, who runs the label with his husband Sael Castro. “Our use of asymmetrical color combinations, unique construction and trim is what sets us apart from our competitors. It has become something of an identifying brand in itself.”
Sael Castro and Curtis Stallard launched Freedom Reigns in 2010 as a tee-shirt shop in California. On a whim, they tested a playful graphic brief on the sales floor. It was a hit with customers and within a few months, Freedom Reigns began unveiling several styles of briefs, trunks, and jockstraps.
Seeing potential to expand their briefs internationally – and with the guidance of Nir Zilberman of the US-based Man Trends Agency – the pair closed their shop and began distributing their collections (which now included an entire sports range) through boutiques around the world.
The idea of freedom holds unique significance to both Castro and Stallard. Sael Castro grew up in Mexico where citizens are not free to live or love freely. He became a legal resident of the United States in 2006. During the short period when gay marriage was legal in California, he and Stallard married. In July, they will celebrate their fourth year anniversary.
They say their collection reflects the Freedom Reigns customer: gear is playful and sports minded with a variety of sport stripes, woven stripes and intricate insets on underwear, tee’s, tanks, shorts, long johns and jackets.
Red, white and blue were a main theme for this Olympic season but the designers also incorporated many of the colors seen on the summer fashion runways including bright canary yellow, fuchsia pink, Ferrari red and charcoal grey.
“When designing our summer collections, we felt it was important to remember the spirit of the games,” concludes Stallard. “It’s a spirit that aligns perfectly with our own brand ideology. Freedom Reigns represents freedom in every aspect of life. We encourage men to live, love and play freely and let freedom reign wherever they are.”
Freedom Reigns’ World Champion Collection and the entire Summer 2012 line are available now at select retail stores and online at LAJock.com.
Click through the full Freedom reigns Gallery below.
