Quote-machine Muhammad Ali famously said, “It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”
The team behind Vancouver menswear lines Reigning Champ and Wings + Horns could get away with some well-backed bragging about their quality threads. Fashion insiders have long known that Reigning Champ and Wings + Horns deliver stylish menswear for every occasion.
But like the classic understated apparel they make, the brands have maintained a relatively low profile when it comes to the masses.
Part of the reason might be because founder Craig Atkinson is media shy, though Tung Vo, creative director and designer for both lines, says it’s part of an overall brand ethos to let the well-made clothes do the talking.
“Our mentality is very close to our apparel, we don’t really shout. We try to let the product speak for itself,” says Vo, who has been with Reigning Champ and Wings + Horns for almost two years after making the leap from Vancouver’s hugely successful Arc'teryx technical outerwear brand.
Still, they’ve gotten lots of notice globally through Reigning Champ collaborations with high-profile companies, including J. Crew, Club Monaco, Converse, Nonnative, MLS/LA Galaxy, and Everlast. Wings + Horns also has an impressive list of alliances with New Balance, Canada Goose, Viberg, George Cox, and more. Both lines are owned by Vancouver-headquartered parent company CYC Design.
Reigning Champ is an athletic brand of casual year-round staples in superior fabrics. The core of the line features lightweight terry hoodies, classic T’s and tanks, pull-on sweatpants and shorts in slimmer silhouettes. The sporty pieces come in a monochromatic colour palette that includes black, grey, white, turquoise, and navy. Prices range from $48 for a jersey T-shirt up to $220 for a terry varsity jacket.
“The whole idea is the clothes are comfortable, yet they still feel robust and durable,” Vo explains.
It’s an exciting time for the brand that launched in 2007; Reigning Champ is expanding its retail presence with the opening of a storefront on West Fourth Avenue in August.
Meanwhile, Wings + Horns is a more expansive sportswear line with a higher price point that ranges from $95 for a jersey crewneck T-shirt up to $595 for a nylon jacket.
The varied collection includes linen blazers, jackets, pants, Henley’s, and even Italian-made shoes, which Vo says have been such huge sellers they are expanding the collection with a leather trainer in the fall.
“Wings + Horns is more collection-based, with a wider range of outerwear. Although there is still a very strong knit component, it’s not as athletic,” Vo says, explaining the difference between the two lines.
The Souvenier jacket, constructed from a combination of smooth nylon satin and breathable Japanese waffle-knit cotton, is a recent top seller for Wings +Horns, which has been around since 2004.
“I think it’s the visual interest in having the two fabric combinations that’s been a hit,” Vo says about the fitted jacket available in army green and black.
Wings +Horns is also known for its connection with the hip US boutique chain, Ace Hotel. The company custom makes hooded French terry bathrobes, inspired by old-school boxing robes, exclusively for Ace.
Both brands have a slightly slimmer fit for a contemporary feel and feature Japanese design sensibility. Owner Atkinson spent several years living in Japan and found inspiration in the culture’s attention to detail, Vo explains.
Describing that influence, Vo says, “We are not about flash. We don’t have crazy embroidery or loud prints; the garments are very simple on the outside, but there is a lot of detail.”
Find Wings + Horns and Reigning Champ online or in store at 133 West 5th, which is steps from the factory where the clothes are made. Both lines are available at Hills of Kerrisdale and Gravity Pope; Reigning Champ can also be found in Vancouver at Haven, Livestock, and Roden Gray.
