The relationship between fashion and sport has never felt more symbiotic. What once lived solely within the realm of performance wear has accelerated into the luxury conversation, shaping runways, street style, and the modern wardrobe alike. Today, sporting events are no longer confined to the arena or racetrack. They have become global fashion spectacles where what is happening off the track/ court/ field often gets as much coverage as what is happening on. We headed to Formula 1 Prix du Canada last weekend, where Liquid I.V. and Sports Club Atelier unveiled a collaboration that captured the essence of modern athletic luxury.
Photo provided by KETCHUM
The partnership arrived at a moment when fashion’s fascination with sport feels especially timely. As Toronto’s WNBA, PWHL, and NSL teams usher in a new era of visibility for female athletes, the aesthetic surrounding sports culture is evolving alongside it. Few understand this shift more intuitively than Lauren Kyle McDavid, founder of Sports Club Atelier, whose approach to sportswear blends vintage athletic nostalgia with understated sophistication. During race weekend, McDavid spoke about the organic origins of the collaboration and the design language that shaped it.
“The Liquid I.V. partnership came very organically, like all of our partnerships do,” she shared. “I already use the product, so it was a natural intersection between wellness, sport, fashion and, of course, race weekend. We started with a mood board, leaned into the Liquid I.V. brand story, understood what we were trying to achieve together, and designed a jacket that made sense for race weekend.”
Photo provided by KETCHUM of Lauren Kyle McDavid, founder of Sports Club Atelier
At the centre of the collaboration was a lightweight moto-inspired jacket — arguably the ultimate fashion staple for Formula 1 season. The silhouette nodded to archival racing jackets with a distinctly relaxed style. Designed to withstand long days trackside under the Montréal weather (hello sun, then rain, then sun again!). The piece embodied the effortless cool that has become synonymous with Sports Club Atelier.
“Our main focus was to make the jacket lightweight,” McDavid explained. “Being out on the racetrack all day, we needed something that felt easy to wear in the heat. We gained inspiration from that old vintage jacket feel — we wanted to bring in a vintage silhouette that was comfortable and focused on function. Having a pocket for our Liquid I.V. was the perfect addition to the jacket.”
I personally wore the piece throughout the weekend, the jacket functioned much like a perfectly tailored trench or an oversized leather bomber: the kind of statement outerwear that instantly sharpens an entire look while remaining easily wearable. The space between practicality and polish is precisely where Sports Club Atelier thrives. Through racer jackets, reimagined varsity silhouettes, and elevated athletic staples, the brand continues to prove that sportswear can feel timeless rather than trend-driven.
Photo provided by KETCHUM
Meanwhile, Liquid I.V.’s Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival activation further reinforced the growing dialogue between wellness and fashion. Designed to resemble a sleek, fashion-forward garage body shop, the installation transformed hydration into part of the race weekend uniform. The activation felt less like a traditional brand experience and more like stepping inside a luxury pit lane fantasy.
“The category of hydration used to be very male dominated — the quintessential sweaty hockey player was plastered on all the ads,” shared Courtney, Brand Manager at Liquid I.V. “We’ve flipped the script and are bringing fashion, hydration, and wellness to the forefront of race weekend, bringing it to people for everyday moments. It was a kismet moment to partner with Sports Club Atelier on this one.”
Ultimately, the collaboration reflects a broader shift happening across fashion right now: the rise of pieces that blur the boundaries between performance and luxury, utility and style. In the world surrounding Formula 1, where fashion has become as closely watched as the podium itself, Liquid I.V. and Sports Club Atelier delivered something that felt entirely of the moment, a modern uniform for the style-conscious spectator.
