It’s been an exciting year for Ben Oleynik, witnessing his brand Grand Collection extend its reach outside of skating into the more expansive fashion arena of New York—taking his logo from skate videos to runway backstages. “To see someone choose to live their life in something you created, it’s just amazing. Whether it’s someone you know and admire—or someone you don’t know at all walking down the street,” says Oleynik to VMAN. “I’m so grateful every time. It never gets old. I love when I see a person wearing an item that is a few seasons or even years old and you can tell they really wear and cherish it.” A brand for skaters, by skaters, Grand Collection has expanded into the wider fashion landscape in recent years. The garments are now seen on the likes of beloved fashion designers and carried in luxury stores around the globe, while still producing frequent skate videos steeped in the culture that birthed the brand.
Now, with Oleynik’s third partnership with Umbro releasing today, the collection aims to unite Grand Collection’s skatewear sensibilities with Umbro’s legacy in classic sportswear construction, as the lineup unveils a quarter zip microfleece and heavyweight cotton matching sets.
“I’ve worn Umbro since I was a kid. It’s such a special brand. Tasteful. Historic. It’s an honor to be even a small part of that history,” explains Oleynik of the continued collaboration. The partnership—which has been ongoing since 2020—showcases Grand Collection’s compatibility with the legacy British sportswear label, as both have made their mark creating pieces that toe the line between aesthetic and tactical. In Oleynik’s words: “When we come together, we want the same things: to create something timeless. Something that a kid at Tompkins in New York can skate in and at the same time something my Dad can wear relaxing in the backyard in Canada.”
The Grand Collection X Umbro collaboration is available now at grandcollectionco.com.