Nike: Varsity Muse

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AnOther Issue 19
AnOther Issue 19Photography by Scott Trindle

Nike Sportswear’s take on the retro Varsity Letterman jacket was the focus of photographer Scott Trindle and stylist Katie Shillingford’s AnOther Magazine fashion story. Originally worn with pride by gangs of high schoolers and college students

Nike Sportswear’s take on the retro Varsity Letterman jacket was the focus of photographer Scott Trindle and stylist Katie Shillingford’s AnOther Magazine fashion story. Originally worn with pride by gangs of high schoolers and college students throughout the US to signify their sporting achievement, today it’s a fashionable piece of outerwear worn globally, presented here through Nike’s A/W10 range of Destroyer Jackets. Shot against a concrete backdrop in Trindle’s striking mix of grit and high fashion, these edgy girls radiate strength and attitude. Here we take a look behind the scenes of AnOther’s fashion shoot, and speak to the man behind the pictures, Scott Trindle.

How much did the Varsity jacket dictate the shoot?
We knew we wanted to shoot a feature on these jackets, so we worked back from there. We were quite keen to make a nod to the era the Varsity jacket originated from but show that Nike's twist on the jacket was very wearable without having to be retro.

Did anything inspire or influence your aesthetic?
Primarily the girls – they were all so lovely and from not knowing each other from Adam, they got on and brought their own personalities to the shoot.

How did you decide on these particular models?
We wanted to create a balance of characters that we could all relate to but also wanted to make them feel like a genuine group of girls that you could see hanging out together, the modern day Pink Ladies!

How did you direct the models?
All of the girls were pretty much cast off the back of their own looks so we kept them relatively true to their choice of appearance and just enhanced their features. None of the shoot is overly posed – we wanted this to feel natural and tangible. We let them wear the jackets rather than the other way around.

What kind of mood did you want to evoke?
Mainly a sense of toughness, making strength and confidence aspirational.

Why did you decide to shoot in black and white as well as colour?
Black and white tends to be potentially quite nostalgic, whereas colour tends to encapsulate certain eras so hopefully this shoot will give a sense of then and now.

How would you describe the collaborative process between you and Katie Shillingford?
I think we both have it in our nature to second-guess ourselves in a method to get the best of the situation, so the day becomes an ongoing chinwag.

Text by Lucia Davies