The University Capsule, the must-have of the season!

While fashion trends are more than ever inspired by the "classic" models of the past, at Project X Paris we decided to pay tribute to a flagship style of 80s/90s streetwear: the University style. Straight from the States, it quickly flooded the world, and we revisit it all through our new must-have capsule.

We know fashion is an eternal recurrence, a kind of big cycle, and it’s not uncommon to see old iconic pieces updated making a big comeback. But there are also timeless styles that always work. The University style, directly imported from American universities, belongs to both categories: not always at the peak of trends, but never outdated either, because it’s an iconic style carried by dozens of movies and rap clips. In the States, belonging to a particular university is a real identity marker, much more than in France. Universities compete (often in sports), and claiming your membership through your clothes is truly part of American culture.

This explains, for example, the rather large size of logos or names on the "uniforms" of American students. People are proud to wear the clothes from where they come from; it strengthens the group spirit, or rather the clan spirit. The university style is both old school and timeless, and it also means embracing a rather sporty, versatile, dynamic outfit. Obviously, athletes (baseball, basketball, American football) are on the front line when it comes to wearing their university colors. Add to that the current strong comeback of the bomber, the iconic piece par excellence of streetwear, and you understand why everything aligns to launch a great "University" capsule at PXP that will leave a mark. Let’s focus on this already successful new release.

The blend of old and new We recently proved that depending on how you style it, the University look can be either youthful or vintage, depending on your taste. We notably saw this during the shoot with Boris Becker and Kader Diaby, two artists not exactly from the same generation. The first had an incredibly 90’s style, reminiscent of several New York rappers’ clips from that great era, with the black and white men’s bomber jacket, paired with wide jeans and a white t-shirt. The second opted for a radically younger, more colorful, more exuberant style with the green and white combo, with matching Jordans to the bomber for a very successful effect. Again, all paired with wide jeans, because the "imposing" bomber allows you to wear pants with a wider cut. A rarity in an era where slim and tapered jeans seem to be the rule.

But obviously, a good University style capsule doesn’t stop at a bomber, even if it’s the most iconic piece. The hoodies are also part of it, almost inevitable. Several models are available, each in several colors, for coordinated outfits. We have the rather classic hoodie with a fairly large and underlined logo on the chest, also featuring the number 15 (the same typography as the Bombers). With, of course, matching jogging bottoms, which we will come back to. But there’s also the SQUAD capsule, which takes up university codes with new logos, new typography, and even new pieces like the crewneck sweatshirt or the t-shirt.

Pieces worth focusing on, with their very innovative and effective design. Let’s quickly focus on the crewneck sweatshirt, one of the biggest successes of the capsule. The little touch of originality, which defines our identity at Project X Paris, is notably on the logo. Or rather, on the layering of different logos on the chest: the PXP Squad is the most massive, the one that best represents the American university garment. Above it, a smaller “Project X Paris,” and below, slightly mixed with the central logo, is the brand’s signature logo, large but in fine lettering. Again, there’s also the matching men’s or women’s jogging set, specially designed for the occasion.

A timeless unisex collection This is one of the main features of the University capsule: almost all pieces exist in both women’s and men’s versions, with slightly specific sizes and cuts. And some pieces, like jogging sets, are truly unisex, wearable by both men and women, with the possibility to make a hit with a carefully studied "couple outfit." And each time, several colors are available, depending on your preference. The shoots with our models in very sunny environments also showed us that the collection remains effective regardless of the season, with colors that really work well. Small detail: logos are a bit smaller on the PXP Squad T-shirt models, for a finer look.

At Project X, we’re thrilled to have had the chance to release a University capsule paying tribute to these American clothes that marked our youth, and probably yours too, through movies and clips made in the USA. We’re even happier to have had Boris Becker and Kader Diaby test it all during a shoot that will remain in our memories. Because this university style is a true streetwear essential to have in your wardrobe!