Starbucks is marrying fall fashion and fall-themed drinks, collaborating with KidSuper founder Colm Dillane on a limited-edition varsity jacket in celebration of the coffeehouse company’s Pumpkin Spice Latte.
“For me, when I think of fall, I think of being cozy, leaves, and of course, pumpkins. We chose a varsity jacket for this because it’s very wearable and perfect for the fall season,” Dillane told WWD.
The collaboration was done in celebration of the Starbucks latte’s 20th birthday. The drink, which includes flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon and clove, was first introduced on Oct. 10, 2003.
“Starbucks reached out and asked to collaborate on something we could design to celebrate PSL’s 20th birthday and the fans of PSL, which was pretty awesome! We worked closely on the design elements for the jacket and landed on this — it looks great!” Dillane said. “There are so many elements of the jacket that I think give off fall vibes — from the falling leaves on the sleeve to the color, which was inspired by the color of the PSL. “
Looking closely into the design details, the varsity jackets also feature rich autumnal tones, embroidered fall leaves and Dillane’s signature handwriting, including “Worth the Wait!” “PSL is Love” and “Happy Fall.”
Dillane and his KidSuper brand have had a successful 2023. Along with the Starbucks PSL collaboration, the founder codesigned Louis Vuitton’s fall 2023 menswear collection in January and is currently nominated for a CFDA Award for the second time.
“Coming into this year, I had big goals and intentions, and it’s been awesome to see them come to life.” Dillane said, adding, “Being nominated for the second time is an awesome feeling! The fashion industry is super competitive and constantly evolving, so to receive this nomination is a testament to the passion and effort we put into every KidSuper piece and collection. “
The KidSuper brand also experienced millions of impressions on Twitter in September, when they posted Kansas City Chiefs football player Travis Kelce wearing the brand’s” Bedroom Painting” denim set on its official Instagram. For the caption, Dillane explained how they altered the name to the “1989 Bedroom Painting” set since Kelce is rumored to be dating songstress Taylor Swift.
“It literally took us one second to do, all we did was change the “Bedroom Painting” denim set to the “1989 Bedroom Painting” set, and the Swifties caught on and it went crazy viral! It’s moments like these that remind me why I love what I do…” Dillane said, noting that the set, which features printed wash denim, patch pockets and contrasting tones, is now sold out on its website.
The KidSuper Studios + Starbucks Team PSL varsity jackets will be available to pre-order at KidSuper.com/TeamPSL on Tuesday at 11 a.m. EST, while supplies last.
