SHOWING OUT WITH THE LATEST ‘CLEATS UP CLUB’ DROP
This week we hit up the eastside of the LBC to let you know exactly what else is up with the 213. Already this year, the guys over at lifestyle brand and boutique, Port, might have caught your attention with their stellar collab with the LA Galaxy. Now looking towards the fall season, Port sticks with the soccer lifestyle theme by way of their offshoot brand, Cleats Up Club.
Cleats Up Club describes itself as a tribute “to those who live in Sunday leagues and show up to the pub battered and bruised.” The ethos of the brand is in its very name, which to me takes on more than one meaning that perhaps perfectly demonstrates the multifaceted nature of this up-and-coming Long Beach brand. On one level, I take the term as a reference to those players who simply just can’t hang the cleats up. Its more literal meaning, however, is obviously its reference to the reckless challenge in soccer characteristic of those very players who take it a bit too far and let their passion and emotion for the game get the best of them.
Paradoxically, the brand proves to be more fine-tuned than all this overdose of emotion it takes inspiration from. In fact, were it not for its very name which pops up throughout the collection, it would be difficult to isolate Cleats Up Club as a sport-inspired brand. This, however, is the true beauty of Cleats Up Club as the decision to be less literal with its soccer heritage and spirit is what allows the brand to stand apart from all others out there.
For this time around, Cleats Up Club puts forth an expansive collection that showcases its signature minimalistic aesthetic. Limited to white and black pieces with a skull graphic motif, the offering is reminiscent of biker club attire which makes more than perfect sense for a brand directly inspired by classic American style. Ironically despite the recurring skull imagery, the whole collection has this unassuming bravado which works in perfect balance to highlight the quality, craftsmanship, and utmost attention to detail Cleats Up Club prides itself on.
As the styling and imagery of its lookbook demonstrate, the Cleats Up collection is a more mature and sophisticated soccer lifestyle offering. As such, the brand gives us no reason to hang our cleats up as through it we have something that transcends the Sunday leagues as well as our love for the game.
The collection is truly something we can take with us everywhere we go so make sure to pick up your favorite pieces here.