Leading fashion brand Franklin & Marshall has teamed up with Wales’ leading rugby region, agreeing a deal to supply the Ospreys with bespoke jointly branded clothing.
- Leading fashion label becomes the latest Italian business to partner with the Ospreys
- Will provide a bespoke dual branded range of clothing for players and management to wear on game day at the post-match function
- Partners are investigating potential retail opportunities together
Under the terms of the new partnership, players and management will all receive a stylish combination of chinos, shirt and pullover featuring both the Franklin & Marshall and Ospreys logos that have been individually made to measure, which they will wear on game day for the post-match function, as well as at selected commercial events throughout the season.
Formed in 2000, Franklin & Marshall becomes the latest Italian company to partner with the Ospreys, following on from the likes of Stabili, Segafredo Zanetti and FIOL.
The company has a longstanding association with rugby as the main sponsor of Verona Rugby for the last six years while, in the past, the former All Black Luke McCallister has been official brand ambassador for Franklin & Marshall.
"We are very proud to have created a link with the Ospreys because we love rugby union and its values” said Giuseppe Albarelli, the Franklin & Marshall owner.
“We know that the team is one of the best in Europe and we are very excited to have a partner like this in Wales where rugby union is a religion and not simply a sport."
As well as kitting out the team and management, future plans for the partnership include investigating potential joint retail opportunities to take advantage of the two strong European brands.
Yarnie Guthrie, Commercial Manager, Ospreys Rugby, added:
“Franklin & Marshall is a young, exciting brand that has made a huge global impact in a short period of time, much like Ospreys Rugby, so we are a great fit as commercial partners.
“We already enjoy a strong commercial presence in Italy and Franklin & Marshall are the latest business to be introduced to us via our sister club partnerships in the country. We now also have a commercial representative working in Italy full time with the growing number of companies from the country who see the benefits of teaming up with a forward thinking and innovative organisation in the Ospreys.
“Their bespoke Ospreys collection is stylish and practical, and is a big hit with the players, many of whom are already familiar with Franklin & Marshall’s signature look. Likewise, Franklin & Marshall is a business which understands rugby, and the culture of the sport. As well as ensuring the team and support staff look great post-match, all parties want to grow this partnership to make it a long term off field success for the Ospreys and for Franklin & Marshall.”
The inspiration for the Franklin & Marshall came from a passion for both sport and America, but it is proudly Italian. The collection is predominately manufactured with Italian raw materials and almost all of the products are made in Venetian factories, allowing a complete control over the production process to ensure outstanding quality standards.
This concept of top quality has always been a fundamental aspect of the brand and has never been abandoned, not even in collaborations with foreign partners.
A Franklin & Marshall garment is recognised by the attention to detail, vintage washes, printing techniques such as crock flock, by the embroidery, the tackle twill applications and, of course, by the label, which in 90 per cent of cases will carry the words “Made in Italy”.