Rivalry between North London football clubs Tottenham and Arsenal isn’t just reserved for the football pitch in recent years. The pair have been keen targets for retail brand collaborations with Arsenal’s four (Aries, Labrum London, Stella McCartney, Pharrell Williams) up against Tottenham’s two (Boss and Tumi).

But now Spurs is edging back, signing up with UK knitwear specialist John Smedley. They’ve unveiled an “exclusive handcrafted collection” to further the men’s fashion brand’s bid to “unite sport, craftsmanship and style”.

The limited-edition capsule collection sees each piece produced “from the world’s finest natural fibres in John Smedley’s historic Derbyshire mill”.

The result is a collection that defines “modern sleekness, thoughtfully balanced with a respectful nod to the rich history of both British institutions with deep roots in their respective fields”.

Launched against the backdrop of North London’s Walthamstow Wetlands (with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium just visible in the distance), the shoot features club legends Michael Dawson and Ledley King.

The limited-edition Tottenham Hotspur x John Smedley knitwear collection will be available for purchase exclusively through the official Spurs online store.

The latest launch follows quickly on from a high profile tie-up with actor Bill Nighy. Collaborations are increasingly popular for British high-end and heritage brands with news of quirky link-ups coming thick and fast. And of course we’ve seen many times in recent years how sports clubs are keen to partner with both heritage and fashion-focused labels and this Spurs launch is a perfect example of that.