Skepta: ‘You can do great things in a tracksuit’

Skepta is encouraging people to wear a tracksuit to Bar Mitzvahs or like him to award ceremonies.
The That’s Not Me rapper famously threw away his designer labels in favour of high street sportswear to prove to his peers they “can do great things in a tracksuit”.
Now he’s launching his own understated clothing range, Mains, named to reference “power” and his favourite piece of clothing is the first item.
“Growing up on the streets, it took me a while to realise that you can do great things in a tracksuit,” the 34-year-old told British newspaper The London Evening Standard. “I’ve won a Mercury award in a tracksuit, I’ve won a Novello award for songwriter of the year in a tracksuit, I’ve played the Brits main stage in a tracksuit. I wanted to make a tracksuit that could be worn anywhere.”
Skepta, who was speaking ahead of the launch of his collection at London store Selfridges on Tuesday night (27Jun17), insisted the tracksuit is not just for his fans, and can also be worn to formal occasions.
“You can wear the tracksuit we’ve made to dinner, you can wear it for sports, you can wear it to a christening or a bar mitzvah — you can wear it anywhere and you’re not going to look out of place,” he added enthusiastically.
The unisex item comes in colours black and khaki and costs $500 (£400) for both the top and bottom, which can also be bought separately.
“I’ve worn the tracksuit in many different places on many different occasions and it’s always the star of the event.. like I go to the British Fashion Awards and it’s like wow, you’re here wearing something that’s not a suit, but you look very smart… It really represents what I’m about,” added the rapper who was named one of GQ’s 50 best dressed British men in 2015.