ATLANTA (February 22, 2024) – CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate trademark licensing company, and Kansas Athletics have teamed up for a unique collaboration with iconic fashion designer Jeff Hamilton for a first-of-its-kind, vintage-inspired leather jacket that launches February 24 as part of the Jayhawks’ College Vault merchandise program.
Hamilton is best known for his high-end leather jackets embroidered with sports and culturally relevant logos and designs that are worn by athletes and celebrities. He is now working in conjunction with Kansas licensee, Original Retro Brand, to showcase the legacy and history of Kansas Athletics through a new fashion-forward jacket designed for Jayhawks fans. The Kansas College Vault X Jeff Hamilton X Original Retro Brand collaboration extends the designer’s creative vision to the college market.
“As a basketball enthusiast, I’m excited to help tell the Kansas story through unique design elements and fashion pieces that I know the Jayhawk faithful will appreciate,” said Hamilton.
Kansas marks the official launch for Hamilton’s new licensed product initiative, celebrating the rich basketball history through on-trend, fashion outerwear. The luxury jackets will be available in a limited product drop exclusively at the 23rd Street location of Rally House in Lawrence. Rally House will host an in-store launch party from 11 AM – 1 PM on Saturday, February 24. Each jacket purchased includes a Jeff Hamilton branded bag and College Vault wooden hanger.
“We are thrilled to lead the way in delivering this one-of-a-kind product to our passionate Jayhawk fans who embrace the deep tradition of the Kansas basketball program,” said Paul Vander Tuig, Assistant Athletics Director for Trademark Licensing for Kansas. “We appreciate CLC, Original Retro Brand, and Rally House collaborating with us to bring to market this unique licensing program with Jeff Hamilton.”
The Kansas College Vault X Jeff Hamilton line represents the inaugural release in a new collegiate licensed program with Hamilton under CLC’s College Vault collection. College Vault is a vintage-inspired merchandise program that pays tribute to the historical trademarks and traditions of collegiate institutions through fashion-forward apparel and non-apparel products. The collaboration with Hamilton marks the first College Vault offering of high-end college outerwear, bringing together Hamilton’s legendary craftsmanship and deep passion for basketball with the timeless appeal of collegiate fashion.
“The College Vault collection was established to give Kansas and other universities an avenue to properly merchandise its historical logos, which have deep meaning for the fans, and help tell the story of its successful athletic and academic programs,” said Nicole Armentrout, CLC’s SVP of Marketing. “We are excited to work with Jeff Hamilton and Kansas on this program that provides elevated fashion merchandise to Jayhawk and sports fans alike.”
About Jeff Hamilton
Renowned for his iconic leather jackets, Jeff Hamilton’s career spans nearly four decades and is marked by groundbreaking designs that have captivated celebrities, athletes, and pop culture enthusiasts alike. Beginning as the first-ever licensee for Guess Jeans for Men, Jeff quickly established himself as a visionary in the fashion world. His transition into designing leather jackets heralded a new era of creativity, with each piece transcending its status as mere clothing to become a coveted work of art. In the early 90s, Jeff’s star rose to new heights as he secured licensing deals with major professional sports leagues, crafting legendary NBA Championship jackets for basketball legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Beyond the realm of sports, Jeff’s creations became fixtures in popular culture, gracing the screens of music videos, television shows, and blockbuster films. With a client roster that includes Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Muhammed Ali, Jeff’s influence knows no bounds. Today, he continues to redefine fashion with his timeless designs, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and inspiring generations to come.
University of Kansas Athletics
Kansas Athletics is a not-for-profit corporation which was organized in 1925 to foster development of intercollegiate athletics in conjunction with the educational activities of the University of Kansas. Kansas Athletics operates the varsity intercollegiate athletic programs (18 men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams) of the University of Kansas in facilities owned by the State of Kansas. A major comprehensive research and teaching university with an enrollment of approximately 27,000, the University provides outstanding excellence in education and research. Kansas Athletics is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
About Original Retro Brand
The Original Retro Brand continues to be a cutting edge and fashion forward company featuring lines for men’s, women’s, youth apparel and headwear. Retro Brand designs and manufactures collections with leading sports entities including The College Vault and over 700 Universities. In addition, Retro Brand has an extensive collection of high-end vintage pop culture and music products featuring Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, MillerCoors, General Motors, AC/DC, Blondie, Def Leppard, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, and The Police. Retro Brand’s US Soccer collection features both the Men’s and Women’s national teams. In addition to their extensive online catalog, The Original Retro Brand can be found in over 200 fashion forward boutiques from coast to coast, high end premium stores, as well as college bookstores, sports venues, and fan shops throughout the country.
About Rally House
Rally House and Sampler Stores Inc. is a family-owned specialty boutique that offers a large selection of apparel, hats, gifts and home décor representing local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS teams in addition to locally inspired apparel, gifts and food. Proudly based in Lenexa, Kansas, Rally House operates 190+ locations across 18 states.
About CLC
CLC is the nation’s leading collegiate trademark licensing company with a mission to elevate college brands through insight and innovation. The company is uniquely positioned to deliver consumer connections and brand visibility for institutions through data-based, customized solutions that include impactful licensed merchandise strategies and innovative marketing platforms to navigate the ever-evolving consumer and retail marketplace. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, CLC is guided by values to serve others, build trust, lead well, innovate often, and be passionate. Founded in 1981, CLC is a part of Learfield, the leading media and technology services company powering college athletics.
For more information, please contact:
Tammy Purves (770) 799-3275 or tammy.purves@clc.com
