Kappa unveil their Kontroll 2017 Spring/Summer Collection with retro athletic vibes that pay tribute to Italian footballing force Juventus. The Kappa logo was worn on the famous black and white kits back in 1980, and the brand have turned on the retro flair for a series that embraces a Turin timeline.
The new Kappa Kontroll project packs an athletically throwback feel, typical of a brand drenched in 80s and 90s style. Kappa are renown for their retro sportswear but the brand has more recently progressed into fashion realms, becoming a versatile player in environments away from sporting scenes. The subtle tributes to Juventus in this collection only enhances their status as sophisticated heritage label. Been there, done it, don't need to shout about it.
The "Kontroll" label is brand new for Kappa for SS17 and originally came about almost by chance back in 1956. At the time, Maglificio Calzificio Torinese used to manufacture socks and underwear, branded Aquila: An old name from 1920 that had to be changed due to a faulty batch of socks, distributed by mistake. Customers returned the goods to the manufacturer and for the first time in 40 years the company's reputation was at risk. The company president had the successive batches labelled with "K" printed on the box for "Kontroll' – a way to guarantee the quality of its products. The demand for "Socks with the K" soared. Thus, from a mistake, a brand was born. Sixty years later comes the first Kappa Kontroll collection.
Kappa have slowly seen their presence disappear in performance circles, as their once healthy stable of football clubs have been lured into mega-money contracts with the 'bigger' (richer) logos, but this has only helped the status and desirability of the distinctive Kappa emblem. Money can't buy style, after-all. The alternative Kontroll range consists of tracksuits, track-pants, tank tops, T-shirts and bombers and will drop into Kappa retailers from March 24.
