The Kids Are Alright
Review of Rio Sport Spring 2025 Fashion Show
By Mark Wittmer
THE COLLECTION
THE VIBE
Eclectic. Youthful. International.
The first collection since creative director Rio Uribe wisely relaunched his brand Gypsy Sport as Rio Sport welcomes this new chapter with a festive celebration of community, both local and global.
The setting of a chic Brooklyn bar felt perfect for a presentation that felt as much like a party as a runway show. As guests sipped drinks at tables, models sashayed down the runway, stopping to pose or twirl every fifteen steps and even hugging their friends in the audience. There’s often a forced sense of formal decorum at these events; for Rio Sport to so quickly and easily break it down is a sign of the brand’s ability to genuinely create a sense of welcoming community.
This spirit of eclectic and accepting community extended throughout the collection, which put a sporty high-low spin on the kind of free-spirited, queer-friendly neo-Victorianism espoused by Gen-Z. Plaid and khaki draw on the urban styles that surrounded Uribe during his upbringing in Los Angeles. Punkish patchworks are created with fabric scraps sourced in New Delhi. Voluminous skirts in jewel tones reference traditional women’s garments from Bolivia. Sharp blazers suggest cosmopolitan elegance, while the brand’s signature UFO logo handbag takes things out of this world.
Multiple collaborations criss-crossed the collection, from bags created with Chrome to boots created with Sorel to the versatile Dickies collab khaki skirts that felt like one of the collection’s standout pieces. This collaborative spirit is another smart extension of the brand’s community perspective.
THE DIRECTION
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THE WRAP UP
The brand may have a new name, but it’s aesthetic spirit remains as eclectic and youthfully expressive as ever. Rio Sport’s new direction was given a fresh sense of purpose and connection through its chaotically fun runway show.
