Fitness influencer Chris Bumstead just launched what might be the most thoughtfully designed athletic wear collection of 2024.
In a recent YouTube video documenting both his new Gymshark collaboration and training session with coach Chris Duffin, the five-time Mr. Olympia Classic Physique champion revealed over a year’s worth of design decisions that went into every single garment.
The result? Pieces that actually understand how bodybuilders’ bodies look in clothes.
And based on Bumstead’s obsessive attention to detail—down to sock height and seam placement—this collection might finally solve problems most athletic brands don’t even know exist.
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The Perfect T-Shirt Took a Year to Design
Most people wouldn’t think twice about where a sleeve seam sits. Bumstead spent months perfecting it.
A typical t-shirt has like a cut sleeve seam right here. We put two seams down the arms here so nothing crosses over your shoulder. So if you have traps or delts, it just flows down your arm.
This innovative construction creates what fellow fitness influencer David Laid called “the perfect fitting t-shirt.” The sleeves are tight and slightly fitted without being too long, and because the seam flows vertically rather than horizontally across the shoulder, it actually enhances arm and trap definition.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The shirt also features a subtle crop—not full crop, but shorter than standard length. For bodybuilders with big legs, this detail makes a massive difference in proportions.
If you wear big pants and a long t-shirt, it makes your legs look really short and you look wide and stocky. But if your t-shirt is a little bit shorter with bigger pants, it just makes the outfit look better.
Silhouette Over Graphics: A Different Design Philosophy
While most athletic brands focus on bold logos and eye-catching graphics, Bumstead went the opposite direction.
The big thing that I wanted to focus on with this collection was the silhouettes of them. So they’re all pretty simple. The graphics are cool but simple, but the actual shape of them is what’s super important.
Every piece features intentionally faded colors and imperfect stitch lines. Nothing is harsh or overly finished. The aesthetic merges authentic streetwear with bodybuilding culture—creating what Bumstead describes as worn-in, washed, and soft.
The color palette reflects this philosophy. Instead of bright, attention-grabbing hues, the collection features a faded purple with cream stripes, weathered blacks, and bone off-white tones.
The Hoodie That Adapts to Your Style
The hoodie showcases Bumstead’s obsession with versatility. It features a slight cuff at the bottom that can be flipped inside out for an even shorter look. The drop armpit creates a baggy silhouette without the sleeves hanging past your hands.
Translation: maximum comfort with zero sloppiness.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The Pants: Soft But Not Sweatpants
Bumstead calls the pants his favorite piece in the entire collection, and for good reason.
The material on this thing is so soft. They just feel so good to wear, but they also are slick. They don’t feel like a sweatpant. They’re a little bit more tightly wound, so it looks a little bit more classy.
The straight leg cut provides plenty of room for larger quads without looking baggy at the bottom. Available in faded purple with white stripes and gray, these pants bridge the gap between gym wear and casual streetwear.
But Bumstead didn’t stop there. Near the end of the design process, he realized something was missing.
The Last-Minute Addition That Solved Everything
After the collection was essentially complete, Bumstead requested one more item: joggers that work for both workouts and travel.
I want a cuff on my leg that’s not too tight. I want them to be extremely thin, just like the sport shorts. And I also want a zipper because when you’re sitting on a plane and you have your AirPods or your phone or your passport in your pocket, you don’t want to lose that.
Available only in black, these joggers represent pure function meeting form. They’re super simple by design because sometimes that’s all you need.
Shorts Designed By Someone Who Actually Wears Them
Bumstead admits to owning 20 pairs of black Gymshark sport shorts. He knows what works—and what could be better.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
I’ve always felt like the sport shorts sometimes looks a little bit long, which I like that style sometimes, but when I’m wearing a more streetwear outfit, I want them to be a little bit wider and shorter leg.
His solution? A 6-inch inseam that splits the difference between Gymshark’s existing 5-inch and 7-inch options. He made the leg opening wider for a baggier aesthetic, then added perforation throughout for a lighter feel and mesh appearance.
Even the socks received meticulous attention. Bumstead requested a 4-inch height—precisely between Gymshark’s mid and crew sock options—because that’s exactly where they sit below his tattoo.
Limited Edition Means Actually Limited
The collection launches May 7th, and Bumstead made one thing crystal clear: there are no restocks planned.
Limited time only. We’re launching this and when it’s gone, it’s gone. So there’s no restocks on this stuff. Some of the items are much less than the others, but it’s never coming back.
Certain pieces—like the work-style puffer jacket—are produced in extremely limited quantities. While it’s not ideal timing for a winter jacket in May, Bumstead suggests buying now and saving it since so few exist.
Statement Pieces Round Out the Collection
Beyond the core wardrobe staples, Bumstead included several standout items:
- Hockey jersey: A homage to Canada with a lightweight construction perfect for warming up
- Rib tanks: Classic Gymshark style with added weathering and bone off-white coloring
- Cut-off tees: Bumstead’s current preference since losing weight post-Olympia
- Hat: Details forthcoming but confirmed as part of the launch
Everything features a distinctive hashtag mark with six lines—the collection’s signature branding element.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Training Philosophy: Knowing When Not to Push
Following the collection reveal, Bumstead trained with renowned strength coach Chris Duffin. Their session revealed insights into high-level training that most bodybuilders miss.
Duffin put Bumstead through a barbell complex targeting shoulders, upper back, and rotator cuffs. The sequence included Cuban rotations, high pulls, behind-the-neck presses, and traditional front presses—all performed consecutively without rest.
Anyone trains like a bodybuilder doing basic dumbbell side lateral raises, do something like this when you have muscle. The random little muscles that you never use are just immediately pumped and burning. My midback is lit up.
The Difference Between Good and Elite Training
Bumstead explained how his approach has evolved beyond typical bodybuilding methodology.
A bodybuilder is purely just like, let me just smoke this muscle. Whereas let’s not quite smoke it so we can go again tomorrow. Everything is so much more intentional than bro working out where just kill this and then inevitably pretty much every bodybuilder every 8 to 12 weeks is just burnt out.
Duffin highlighted what separates elite performers from everyone else: knowing when not to train.
There’s three levels. There’s realizing you always have to work hard. Then there’s realizing you have to work hard on the right things. But the highest level of mastery is knowing when should you not do it. The people who are the best of the best, it’s because they’ve done it for a long time.
After two weeks of minimal training, Bumstead noticed everything tightening up. But just five days back with intentional programming under Duffin’s guidance had him feeling significantly better.
Why This Collection Matters
Most athletic wear collaborations slap a celebrity name on existing products. Bumstead took complete creative control and solved problems he actually experiences.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The result is clothing designed by someone who understands how muscular physiques look in different cuts, how proportions change with body composition, and how tiny details make enormous differences in wearability.
From seam placement that enhances muscle definition to inseam lengths that balance silhouettes, every decision serves a purpose. Nothing is arbitrary.
This isn’t influencer merch. It’s what happens when elite-level understanding of physique meets genuine obsession with fit and function.
The Cbum x Gymshark collection launches May 7th with no restocks. Given the year-long development process and limited production runs, missing launch day likely means missing out entirely.
