Just when you thought hype collaborations were over, in slides skate wear giant Palace with a very cool new hook up with the Gap, which includes childrenswear for the first time, too.
The London based cult brand, which has a store on Brewer Street in Soho, has effortlessly tapped in the core ‘90s aesthetic of the American high street titan in a way which you wish the brand itself had managed to do lately. Palace has previously worked on limited collaborations with everyone from Ralph Lauren to Gucci, adidas and Vans.
Lev Tanju, who founded Palace in 2009, explains that “Collaborating with Gap made sense because a lot of us grew up skating in Gap gear in the 1990s. Gap is so cool to us: clean, preppy, and all about the good American things like everyone being welcome. Gap put out so much iconic content in the era before it was called content and it’s been a real privilege for us to play in that space with them. And doing our first ever kids' collection with Gap — who make the best kids’ clothes — is really special for us.”
The collection revisits classic ‘90s pieces, giving them a 2024 re-spin. Gap’s signature hoodie is emblazoned with PAL - merging the two label’s logos. Patchwork pastel collared button down shirts have more than a whiff of Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, as do the preppy striped rugby shirts (which are also helpfully bang on for spring’s Saltburn trend mood). Chinos come with outsize cargo pockets, varsity jackets feature the motif of Jeremy the duck, Palace’s cartoon “employee”.
There are, of course, actual skateboards in the collection; as well as camo print shirts and trousers, and a shell tracksuit in burgundy and navy modelled by the Mel C, the OG ‘90s Sporty Spice.
Like all Palace drops, this one likely won’t stay around for long, the collection launches on March 22 at 11am - set an alarm if you want to join the in-crowd.
palaceskateboards.com; gap.co.uk
PALACE GAP, THE KEY PIECES
