Rapha and Shrimps join forces for capsule to help women enjoy city cycling

Two very different brands have teamed up for a collab that’s just gone live with fashion brand Shrimps and cycling brand Rapha launching their first collaborative collection.

Described as “experimental but wearable, high-performance but casual,” the companies said the “collection bridges the gap between fashion and cycling”.

That’s an approach Rapha has taken before with the label earlier this year teaming up with Paul Smith on a joint cycling collection.

This latest creative link-up is very different from that one though with the nine-piece capsule combining Shrimps’ “signature playful patterns and whimsical designs” with Rapha’s “cycling apparel and off-bike stylings to create a boundary-blurring aesthetic for those unafraid to stand out”. 

What that means in practice is a Wind Jacket with cinchable arms, a Ponytail cap with a detachable Shrimps bow, a Cropped Zip Tank, or Long Sleeve Jersey and more.

While the Paul Smith collection targets both men and women, this time, the brands have created “a fun take on the traditional cycling apparel aesthetic, aimed at inspiring more women to discover the joy of cycling in and around the city”. 

The colour palette includes a neon green, cornstarch blue and the signature Shrimps gingham in camel/brown. “This creates juxtaposition between the grapevine print we have used throughout the collection giving you the visual experience of an Italian vineyard,” Shrimps said. 

As with many sports pieces these days, it’s all about being able to wear the items both during the ‘sport’ and on other occasions with Rapha saying it’s “a true lifestyle collaboration that takes you from bike to aperitivo bar”. 

Agata Jasinska, Rapha Womenswear Designer said the collection wants to “transcend the conventional boundaries of cycling apparel, pushing the limits of what it currently is. By fusing our brands together, we strive to merge the feminine and playful style that defines Shrimps with Rapha’s expertise in on-bike performance, resulting in something truly unexpected. Our aim here was to bridge the gap between sportswear and fashion, between lifestyle and on-bike clothing.

“Through our collaborative exploration, we have embarked on a journey to redefine classic on-bike silhouettes, infusing our functional fabrics with Shrimps’ trademark expressive and joyful prints. These prints featured in the collection are a vibrant celebration of the pure joy and freedom of cycling.”

And Shrimps founder and Creative Director Hannah Weiland added that her inspiration came from “a wine tasting cycling tour I went on through the Tuscan vineyards a few years ago. Combining cycling with indulgence is what first appealed to me… stopping off for a glass of wine or a scoop of ice cream whilst taking in the Italian countryside”.