EDITOR’S NOTE

…I think the true destiny of this thing is to be a magazine?

It wasn't the intended goal—trust me. But, as we approach the end of bad weather and the renewal of all the things we love about sports and being outside, it felt right to do a Traditional Editorial Feature, albeit at 1/1000000000th of the budget.

Gameday Grails' Spring Preview 2025 is a celebration of the new guard. While the vintage sportswear world loves to look back, this issue is about looking forward—to the brands, designers, and cultural shifts shaping the next chapter of our obsession.

Sure, we're still hunting down those elusive white whales (peep this week's featured grails), but we're equally excited about who's carrying the torch forward. Our cover story spotlights four brands that are doing the impossible: creating new pieces that actually deserve to sit next to your vintage collection.

This isn't just about hype or nostalgia plays. These are craftspeople and designers who understand that respecting the past means pushing it forward, not just xeroxing it. These brands are writing the next chapter of sportswear culture, from NYC to Nebraska and everywhere in between.

Consider this your roadmap for the next six months of collecting, discovering, and obsessing.

REMINDER: Last call for our college hoops sale. 25% off everything on the site until 4/7.

As always, let's have some fun out there.

THIS WEEK’S GRAILS

• Ken Griffey Sr. & Ken Griffey Jr. “Griffey: The Next Generation” Costacos Bros. Poster The holy grail of baseball posters captures the only father-son MLB teammates ever, frozen in peak Costacos Brothers swagger.

• Vintage APEX ONE Double Sharktooth Wisconsin Badgers jacket (Size XXL) The double sharktooth wasn't just APEX ONE flexing - it was them declaring war on Starter's jacket empire.

• Vintage Houston Rockets white-tag Starter jacket (Size S) Houston Rockets white-tags are rare enough, but a legitimate size small is basically a vintage lottery ticket.

• Vintage 90s Chalk Line Chicago Bears Satin Bomber Jacket (Size L) Peak Chalk Line madness featuring their signature oversized graphics and a color palette that screams early 90s Soldier Field.

• Vintage Jacksonville Jaguars Lawsuit Logo crewneck (Size XL) Remember when we talked about these? Own a piece of NFL legal history featuring the short-lived design that was too fierce for British auto executives to handle.

GOOD NOSTALGIA ALERT

So, Homefield is essentially the archaeologist of college sports aesthetics.

While you're throwing elbows at the thrift, they're doing the real work: digging through dusty university archives to resurrect logos that deserved a second life.

We're talking a resume that spans across 180+ schools—uncovering the kind of gems your dad spots immediately launches into stories about some random homecoming game in '82.

Here's what matters: these aren't those trash "vintage-inspired" cash grabs that feel like sandpaper. Homefield pieces hit different. The weights feel era-accurate and these things got that kind of broken-in comfort that'll make your favorite reverse weave jealous.

From powerhouse programs to schools that, frankly, we had never heard of before, they're doing what we love about this culture: preserving history while pushing it forward.

Use code GRAILS15 for 15% off your first purchase at Homefield. Your collection (and your body) will thank you.

SPRING PREVIEW 2025: THE NEW GUARD

While our community will always treasure the hunt for that perfect white-tag Starter, there's something powerful happening in vintage-inspired sportswear right now: a new generation of creators who understand that respecting the past means more than just reproducing it.

These four brands represent different paths forward, each building on the foundation of sportswear heritage while writing their own chapters:

ROYAL RETROS 

The art of resurrection isn't just about bringing back old logos—it's about understanding why certain teams captured our imagination in the first place. Royal Retros gets this deeply, crafting pieces that honor forgotten franchises through meticulous research and thoughtful design. When they revive a team like the Portland Mavericks, they're not just selling nostalgia—they're preserving stories that deserve to be told. Their website is here, and their IG is here.

FATHER FIGURE 

In a landscape cluttered with lazy "vintage-inspired" cash grabs, Father Figure stands apart through genuine creativity and cultural understanding. This brand feels so New York it hurts. Their Cable Knit Knicks Sweatervest Jersey isn't just a clever design—it's a conversation between eras, materials, and traditions that shouldn't work but somehow feels essential. Their website is here, and their IG is here!

WE'RE BACK

There's profound beauty in their singular focus on Nebraska football culture. While others chase trends, We're Back digs deep into regional identity, creating pieces that speak directly to the eternal optimism of fandom. Their latest Coaching Carousel Collection isn't just clothing—it's anthropology rendered in mesh and cotton. Their website is here, and their IG is here!

LaFavre

What started as a Jacksonville kid's dream has evolved into the new face of Southern luxury sportswear. Their corduroy caps and hand-crocheted pieces don't just respect heritage—they're redefining it and what officially-licensed sportswear can look like, proving that sometimes the freshest perspective comes from your own backyard. Their website is here, and their IG is here!

What makes these creators special isn't just their output—it's their understanding that vintage sportswear culture is a living thing, constantly evolving while staying rooted in what matters: quality, storytelling, and community. They're proof that the future of this space is as exciting as its past.

ICYMI

dj_jns

18K followers

View more on Instagram

This guy’s collection is fantastic and his videos are always so fun to watch.

Follow both @GamedayGrails for more vintage sportswear history and culture you won't find anywhere else.

FROM THE VAULT

Just realized…you never see couples from opposing Big Ten schools in matching Logo 7 sweatsuits anymore, do you?

Let’s Connect!

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Do you own a vintage-inspired sportswear brand we should be aware of? Reach out.

Have feedback, ideas or want to collab? Email info@gamedaygrails.com with any ideas, we’re usually down to clown.

Thank you for being part of the Gameday Grails family.