NBA All-Star Kevin Love On His Banana Republic Fashion Collection

Photo Credit: Banana Republic

Kevin Love is a designing man. The NBA All-Star and Cleveland Cavaliers power forward has joined forces with Banana Republic to create the fashion collaboration, BR/K.LOVE-18—a limited-edition men’s capsule of clothing and accessories.

BR/K.LOVE-18, which will launch on September 18, 2018, is inspired by Banana Republic’s utility heritage with a twist of Love’s favorite tailored performance pieces, highlighting his personal style grounded in American sportswear.

Building up to Fall’s highly-anticipated collection launch, Love’s three-year partnership role as Banana Republic’s men’s style ambassador continued this month during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, where Love, an L.A. native and UCLA alum, met and mingled at the BR store at The Grove.

We caught up with Love to discuss his fashion collection, his personal style and what it means to be an All-Star.

Photo Credit: Banana Republic
Tell us how the collection with Banana Republic came to be.
I’ve been a partner of Banana Republic’s for three years and throughout the process I’ve been very vocal about my personal style and taste. I even met with the design team to learn about their process long before this collection was a reality so I’ve become more knowledgeable about the fashion world over the past few years. The capsule collection was an exciting and organic next step in our partnership. The whole experience was an amazing challenge – it was very fun and definitely a collaborative process with the Banana Republic design team. To start the collection design process, me and my team put together an extensive book of magazine clippings, trends, editorial shots and styles we liked. It got us all on the same page as to what we envisioned for the whole collection. We also spent a lot of time digging through the Banana Republic archive closet, which was so cool to pick pieces and fabrics that were inspiring and then deciding how to make it new and fresh for 2018.

How would you describe your style?
I like clothes that combine style and comfort since I’m always traveling and on-the-go, but it’s always based in classic pieces and looks—just for the modern man. Versatility is definitely important to me because we’ll go on 10-day road trips so I need items that can be worn for multiple occasions. I usually like to go for a polished yet casual look that can easily be dressed up or down, which is why I love brands like Banana Republic – the men’s collection is so easy to wear and I can put together pieces to create a look that works for pretty much anywhere I go.

How does Banana Republic complement/suit your style?
I’ve always been a big fan of the brand and admire Banana Republic. It’s timeless and classic. I’m constantly updating my wardrobe so I can stay current, but also like to have those key staples that will never go out of style, and Banana Republic always offers both. It’s been great having a closet full of BR pieces to mix into my wardrobe, everything from sleek outerwear and tailored suits to daily must-haves like the Rapid Movement Chinos.

What is the best accessory a guy can wear?
Accessories are key to personalizing your look. My favorite season is Fall, which is why the collection is a Fall collection, because I love to layer. From outerwear to pocket squares and pins I leap at every opportunity to add my personal flair to looks. For example, my favorite piece from my BR/K.LOVE-18 collection is a brown leather jacket with buffalo plaid that you can dress up or down.

Photo Credit: Banana Republic

Are you a watch guy? What piece can’t you live without if so?
I am a watch guy—they’re one of my favorite accessories. My favorite timepiece is a Rolex that I wear usually every day.

Has All-Star status been one of your greatest life goals? Why or why not?
It’s an honor to be named to the All-Star team and this being my 5th one, it’s not something I take for granted. You’re being acknowledged as one of the best 24 players in the NBA and when people look back on your career and see the number of All-Stars you made it puts in you in a certain class that I appreciate and am proud to be a part of.

Are you excited to head back to LA, given that you were born there? What spots are you going to hit up while you’re in town?
Definitely excited to have been back in LA for the weekend. I love LA, being born there and going to UCLA. I was able to go back to Pauley Pavilion over the weekend for the Oregon v UCLA game and see the Kevin Love Athletic Performance Center back on campus. That was a great moment. Other than that I was able to visit all my favorite spots from Mastro’s in Beverly Hills to going out in Hollywood, Downtown, and hanging out with friends.

What to you is the greatest luxury in life?
Honestly, I think it’s the ability to use my platform to pursue opportunities that I love—starting with this BR/K.LOVE-18 collection. This is something that not everyone gets to do and to have it happen on such a large scale and with a classic American brand is definitely a luxury and something that I don’t take for granted.