WORDS BY STEPHEN YU
Who Made Fear of God?
Fear of God is made by Jerry Lorenzo Manuel, son of former Major League Baseball manager Jerry Manuel. Due to his father’s job, a young Lorenzo travelled America, moving from school to school, which exposed him to the myriad of cultural influences that now inspire his fashion brand. After studying for an MBA, Lorenzo planned to become a sports agent, until he started dating a Hollywood actress. It was then that he noticed a gap in the nightlife industry –– there were only hip-hop parties, techno nights or A-list celebrity parties, but nothing in between. So, he decided to become a party promoter, creating events that bridged the gap between all three. It’s an approach that would later lead him to bridge the gap between luxury fashion and streetwear with Fear of God.
Why Is It Called Fear of God?
The brand is called Fear of God because Christianity was a big part of Lorenzo’s upbringing, and his faith continues to be one of his biggest inspirations today. The brand is a physical representation of many of Lorenzo’s interests, from baseball to his favourite bands, such as Metallica,, and God also ranks highly in his list of priorities. Perhaps ironically, Lorenzo recognises that the name ‘Fear of God’ references both the strength of his faith today, and also his grappling with it growing up. Whatever the true meaning of the name, Lorenzo is always quick to shift any accolades or spotlight away from himself, instead thanking and crediting God for his successes.
History of Fear of God
Fear of God has been around since 2013, although in the brand’s earlier years, Lorenzo was more widely known as the guy who kickstarted the tour merchandise craze, with his Wes Lang-inspired Yeezus and Justin Bieber’s Vetements- and Raf Simons- style 'Purpose' tour merch.
At the start, Lorenzo was running the brand out of his garage, which is where Virgil Abloh first picked up a piece. A few conversations later and Lorenzo was supplying clothes to Yeezy, and found his brand on the rails of one of America’s top department stores, Barneys. Fear of God kickstarted the luxury streetwear revolution in the fashion industry, and Lorenzo has aspirations for the brand to become as big as the likes of Ralph Lauren, but with a much wider audience, speaking to a broad range of American subcultures. There are various ‘90s references in the Fear of God designs –– think Kurt Cobain and characters from films like ‘The Breakfast Club’ –– yet the brand also feels completely modern, with inspiration taken from young street-style trendsetters, too.
While Fear of God has its roots firmly in T-shirts and streetwear staples, it’s beginning to become much more than that, bringing forth a unique take on new American luxury. Today, Fear of God is all about creating everyday clothes with a touch of sophistication and all-American spirit –– everything from the colour to the silhouettes and even the emotions captured are distinctly American. The brand draws on more than just hip-hop and grunge, there are also nods to Wall Street, Californian skate culture, varsity jackets, and classic denim.
Fear of Good Collections
Fear of God
Now on its seventh collection, Fear of God’s signature pieces include oversized bomber jackets with ruched sleeves, plaid flannel shirting with zip details and expertly distressed denim. This collection also expands beyond streetwear to include elevated wool and cashmere knitwear, nonchalant suiting, and even a loafer or two. There’s a focus on high-end materials sourced from Japan and vintage fabrics, such as repurposed military sleeping bags, while tailoring is made in Italy from the finest Italian and British fabrics. Eschewing the traditional fashion calendar, each main collection is only released as and when Lorenzo feels ready. This means you may be waiting a while for the eighth collection –– the seventh took two years to make after all.
Essentials
What started as a more affordable and attainable diffusion line named F.O.G. was rebranded as ‘Essentials’ in 2018, although its concept remained the same –– providing stripped-back wardrobe essentials like hoodies, T-shirts and sweatpants, all with that Fear of God quality and fit, but at a fraction of the price. Often sold-out, each piece focuses on wearability, comfort and timelessness, making them versatile additions to any wardrobe. This season’s casual collection was designed as an accessible entry point to Lorenzo’s vision of new American luxury, featuring weathered black colourways and a tennis-inspired sneaker.
Athletics
Even before the first Nike x Fear of God collaboration in 2018, the world of sport was a big source of inspiration for Lorenzo, especially the off-duty and on-court styles of some of the world’s most famous basketball and baseball players. This season, Fear of God has partnered with Nike again, to reimagine some of its most recognisable sportswear pieces for the modern era. Wishing to explore the more emotional elements of sport, the collection remixes classic NBA warmup pieces, creating clean silhouettes that mix old-school nostalgia with new-school materials and styling. Capturing the idealised style of the leagues’ best-dressed athletes arriving for practice, the collection features clever designs like backless sneakers that look as though the heels have been stepped down to slip on.
Fear Of God Footwear
While the Fear of God x Nike silhouettes are some of the most hyped in the industry, the designs from the brand’s own collection are not far behind. From the covetable Military Sneaker, which echoes Raf Simons’ take on the Nike Vandal, to the Dunk/Air Jordan hybrid, dubbed the Basketball Sneaker, all of Fear of God’s footwear is made from premium leather, using custom lasts that ensure the brand’s footwear is always different from the rest.
Fear Of God Sizing Guide
Fear of Good Hoodies
With super-long sleeves, plunging side splits and boxy silhouettes, Fear of God hoodies are made to be worn oversized.
The main collection’s hoodie cut changes every season, from short-sleeved variations to Rick Owens-style extended hems, while Fear of God Essentials hoodie sizing is more consistent from season to season. The general consensus is that if you’d rather a more true-to-size fit, instead of oversized, take a size down. This sizing advice is consistent across jackets and T-shirts too, so once you’ve found your preferred Fear of God size it should be the same across all tops.
Fear Of God Trackpants
With zipped cuffs as standard, so they stack better over your sneakers, Fear of God track pants are one of Lorenzo’s most popular designs. They can be worn fully-zipped up to maximise the bunched-over-the-shoe look, or unzipped for a more flared silhouette.
Fear of God track pants are extremely slim fitting, with a tight fit through the thigh and calf, however the waistband tends to be a looser fit. Basically, if you have a larger waist you’re safe to stay true-to-size, but if you have a smaller waist you may be best sizing down. If you have larger legs though, you’ll need to size up, but expect a very baggy waistband.
Nike Air Fear Of God 1
Lorenzo is one of the few people who’s been allowed to design his own silhouette for Nike (meaning he’s up there with the likes of Michael Jordan and Kanye). The Nike Air Fear of God 1 is part sneaker boot, part basketball shoe, designed to be worn for maximum off-court comfort and unbeatable performance on court. The sneaker combines caging, similar to the Huarache, with a double layer of Zoom Air cushioning in the visible air unit, as per the 180, which makes it one of the most exciting and futuristic silhouettes to come from Nike for a long time.
If you have wide feet, the Fear of God 1’s roomy toe box should fit well in your usual size. Otherwise, it’s recommended on releases with mesh uppers that you take a half size down, or even a full size down if you typically wear thin socks. Bear in mind that styles with leather uppers have more give and stretch, so take that into consideration when purchasing.
For other Nike x Fear of God silhouettes such as the Raid, Air Skylon 2 or Moccasin, we recommend you take your usual Nike size, which is typically a half size up from your regular shoe size. Make sure to consult the relevant sizing advice for your selected style.
Shop this edit: Fear Of God Fleece Monogram Hoodie | Fear Of God Core Logo Patch Track Pants | Nike Air ‘Fear Of God’ 1 Sneakers | Fear Of God Solar Wolf Slip-On Boots
Fear Of God Collaborations
Fear of God for Ermenegildo Zegna
Together with Ermenegildo Zegna’s artistic director Alessandro Sartori, Lorenzo has created a vision of modern luxury that sees Zegna’s masterful craftsmanship and tailoring expressed through Fear of God’s aesthetic. The capsule consists of polished sportswear staples for the modern man — it’s basically streetwear, but more dressed up, more tailored and more sophisticated. Designed to be worn at the party and on the plane home afterwards, Fear of God strikes the perfect balance between formal and athletic-wear.
Fear of God x Vans
Following the success of Fear of God’s collaboration with Nike, Lorenzo first worked with West-Coast skate legends at Vans in 2016, reworking two of the most famous silhouettes –– the Era and Sk8-Hi –– for the brand’s 50th anniversary celebrations. While the Era’s white uppers were finished with a loud all-over print of the Fear of God logo, inspired by those worn by Jeff Spicoli in the 1982 film ‘Fast Times At Ridgemont High’, the Sk8-Hi was more sophisticated in a versatile black-and-sand colourway. Just a year later, Lorenzo returned to Vans with some colour –– releasing the Eras in red corduroy, alongside Vans’ outdoor-inspired Mountain Edition sneaker and a trio of 147 Slip-Ons finished with the Fear of God metal logo on their velcro strapping.
Fear of God x Converse
Fear of God’s most recent footwear collaborations have been with OG basketball sneaker brand
Converse. For spring 2020, Fear of God’s Essentials line reworked the iconic Chuck 70 silhouette in a variety of colour-blocked neutrals, resulting in three easy-wearing, two-tone styles, which feature extra-long laces to be worn tied around the ankle and secured through a tab at the heel. For autumn 2020, Lorenzo revived a 110-year-old classic –– the Skid Grip –– in a multi-coloured ‘80s print, alongside military-inspired silhouettes made from jungle cloth and waxed canvas, with added padding lining for that trademark Fear of God comfort.
Shop this edit: Fear of God x Ermenegildo Zegna Washed Jean | Vans X Fear Of God Sneakers | Converse x Fear Of God Chuck 70 Sneakers
Fear of God Apparel Size Chart
Fear of God Footwear Size Chart