Rapha, the British fine cycling clothing and accessories label, has teamed up with iconic design firm, Herman Miller, in celebration of the 2016 AMGEN Tour, California’s greatest race.
A 9-piece limited edition cap collection features prints and patterns lifted from Herman Miller’s extensive textile division archive and the work of Alexander Girard. Rapha’s designers uncovered over 300 original examples of Girard’s finest works from every decade of his tenure as Herman Miller’s Director of Design.
Faithfully reproduced textile prints appear on eight men’s styles, plus one for women. Numbered one through eight, each piece will be launched throughout the AMGEN Tour of California to correspond with each stage and to signify their date of release.
Rapha is no newcomer to collaborations. This season, it announced its second project with London department store, Liberty, for the label’s SS2016 women’s collection. Bringing Rapha’s state-of-the-art performance wear together with Liberty’s influential print archive, the Rapha + Liberty capsule works an iconic 1970s print into a range of stylish, technical apparel, tailored for riding and racing.
Since beautiful kit deserves a bike to match, the bespoke frame-builder Tom Donhou also crafted a stunning bicycle to commemorate the collaboration.
Meanwhile, Rapha’s attention to detail and heritage has also brought to life “Rivals”, a three stage limited edition, tribute to cycling’s great rivalries. ‘JA OR OUI?’, the first release in March, focuses on the duels between Belgian legends Roger De Vlaeminck and Eddy Merckx (Rog and Edd). The second, April’s “Il Pio e L’Airone” pays homage to a tale of an Italy divided between Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi. Details of the third and final instalment are still to be announced.