Known for partnering with different cultural entities, Complex brings together two L.A. residents—streetwear purveyor Union Los Angeles and the Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers—for a collection that launches at ComplexCon Long Beach, which takes place November 2-3. Pairing the two powerhouses made absolute sense as they were both born out of NYC. Union LA moved in the early ‘90s and the Dodgers in ‘57 after NYC officials were unable to rebuild a new stadium and repair the Ebbets Field ballpark.
Teaming up with New Era and the MLB, Chris Gibbs, who owns Union Los Angeles, designed a six-piece capsule that brings a streetwear spin to sports merch and embraces the Los Angeles ethos via classic Dodgers iconography. After over a decade, he also reintroduces Union's OG "frontman" logo—an emblem that was originally used at Union NY where Gibbs got his start.
“I started working there in ‘96. My then girlfriend, now wife Bephie, got me the job,” Gibbs stated. “It was by far the best job I ever had. So much so that I still work here. I was able to just be myself. I remember my first day working they gave me the keys to the store and I had to open and close. I was a bit surprised. I got to meet a ton of incredibly creative and interesting people and just talk shit all day. It was awesome. Not to mention I got put onto a whole other world and level of fashion.”
This partnership is a full circle moment for Gibbs, who now has the rights to use the OG Frontman logo.
“We most recently retained the rights to the Union Frontman logo that had for some time lay dormant,” Gibbs says. “Honestly we had different plans for a major release of this logo. Plans that are still in motion, but I decided to cheat just this one time and jump our release timeline for this amazing opportunity. So for anyone who cares, the Frontman is coming back and this is a little sneak preview.”
The capsule collection features the throwback Frontman logo, key L.A. Dodgers signature scripts, emblems placed on an array of hoodies, long sleeve shirts, and T-shirts in bold graphics that come in black, white, and the official Dodger royal blue colorways, which is a salute to the national pastime. Photographed at the third oldest major league ballpark, the Dodger Stadium, the lookbook pays homage to the heritage of both the Dodgers and Union Los Angeles. Hoodies run for $99.99, tees for $44.99, long sleeve tees for $54.99 and fitted caps for $59.99.
"Don’t get it twisted. I know everyone talks about the Lakers and for sure the Lakers are huge here, but this is a Dodgers town," says Gibbs. "The Dodgers have the most democratic following and loyal following and they quite frankly, 'Keep It Real.' So when this opportunity came up, I jumped at it."
Check out the full imagery above and purchase your favorites at ComplexCon in Long Beach this weekend.
