Virgin Atlantic has recreated the iconic sweater that became Princess Diana’s favorite workout top just two years before her untimely death in August 1997. But the sweatshirt has been so popular that the first drop sold out within minutes of going on sale.
The navy blue crewneck sweatshirt, which features a vintage Flying Lady motif and which spells out the words ‘Fly Virgin Atlantic,’ has been recreated to mark the 30th anniversary of when Princess Diana first wore the top, and proceeds will go the support Virgin Atlantic’s charity partner Save the Children.
Embed from Getty ImagesRetailing for £59 for adult sizes and £47 for children’s sizes, Virgin Atlantic will donate £10 from each to Save the Children, with an initial drop of 250 jumpers selling out within minutes.
Princess Diana was gifted the original sweatshirt by Sir Richard Branson, the flamboyant founder of Virgin Atlantic, in 1995, and it soon became her favorite top to wear for her workout sessions.
Following her death, Princess Diana’s personal trainer, Jenni Rivett, described in an interview Diana’s decision to make the now iconic sweatshirt her go to workout top.
“Every single [workout] session, all the media were outside camped with their stepladders, and cameras and lenses and everything,” Jenni recalled. “For her, she just found it so incredibly, ‘why are they so interested in me when there are more important things to worry about in the world?’”
“It wasn’t her who asked for all this. I remember one of her strategies was that she was going to wear the same Virgin Active sweatshirt every single session.”
Princess Diana had a stock of the sweatshirts for her workouts, and a few months before her death, she gifted some of them to Jenni. One of these sweatshirts, along with a personal note from Diana, was auctioned for $53,533 in 2019.
“Princess Diana’s Virgin Atlantic jumper became an icon of freedom and individuality,” commented the airline’s Head of Creative and Design, Sophie Woodford.
“Replicating it for Save the Children lets us celebrate her legacy with a fresh twist, combining style, purpose, and a little Virgin Atlantic spirit along the way.”
The re-release comes nearly 30 years after Princess Diana first wore the sweatshirt, and just like Diana was known as the People’s Princess, the airline is dubbing the sweatshirt the People’s Pullover.
Given the success of the initial launch, expect Virgin Atlantic to create at least one more drop of the iconic sweatshirt, but you’ll have to be quick, as these will no doubt be snapped up incredibly quickly.
