PacSun to Launch First Men’s Active Brand, A.R.C. Collection

PacSun has tapped a quartet of up-and-coming athletes to help launch its new men’s activewear brand.

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Called A.R.C. Collection, for Active. Recreation. Comfort., this marks the retailer’s first dedicated active apparel line targeted to Gen Z men. As a result, PacSun will feature quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders from Colorado University and Carson Beck from the University of Georgia, as well as basketball player Shareff O’Neal, most recently with the NBA G League Ignite, and gymnast Khoi Young, an alternate on Team USA for the Paris Olympics as the faces of the brand. Sanders is the son of dual-sport athlete Deion Sanders, who played both professional baseball and football, and O’Neal is the son of Hall of Fame NBA player Shaquille O’Neal .

The 28-piece A.R.C. launch collection features short sleeve and cut-off Ts, run and flight shorts, color-blocked vests, crewnecks, hoodies, pants and joggers in fabrications ranging from heavyweight brushed fleece to stretch nylon and moisture-wicking polyester blends. All styles reflective branding and are available in an array of neutral tones including gray, olive, black, brown, off-white, yellow and navy.

The collection is broken down into three different categories: active, recreation and comfort. The active segment is designed for high-performance activity and features stretch nylon tops and shorts with perforated side panels. The recreation part of the line is intended for relaxed, everyday wearing occasions and includes nylon cargo pants, a lightly padded vest and other casual pieces. The comfort portion features loungewear such as pigment-dyed fleece tops with slanted kangaroo pockets, hidden zip closure and eyelets at the armholes along with heavyweight brushed jersey Ts.

The launch of the men’s line builds on the success of PacSun ’s women’s activewear line, PAC1980, which launched last year and has its own dedicated store in the Mall of America since last summer.

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In addition to its own A.R.C. label, PacSun will also bring in an assortment of outside men’s activewear brands to add to its mix including Y.I.W.O., which stands for Yeah I Work Out, a brand that straddles active apparel and streetwear. That will launch on July 16.

“The A.R.C. collection marks a significant milestone for PacSun as we introduce our first dedicated men’s activewear line and look to fill a gap in the market,” said Richard Cox, vice president of men’s merchandising and design for the retailer. “The three unique style categories within the collection are designed to reflect the diverse lifestyles of our consumers. Our goal was to create high-quality, versatile pieces that resonate with their evolving lives while remaining accessible to everyone.”

A.R.C. Collection will be available exclusively at PacSun’s stores and online beginning Friday. It is priced between $29.95 and $74.95. The campaign featuring the four athletes will be used on PacSun’s website as well as in digital ads, e-mails and on social media. The athletes will also post on their social media sites.

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