Imagine hearing B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All) by Eliza Rose on a Thursday evening in London, just as the city begins to shift toward the night. Last Thursday, we had the chance to experience that moment first-hand, travelling to the British capital invited by Under Armour to attend LDN Layers, a one-night activation where fashion and music intersected.
Hosted at Bronx Boxing Gym in South East London, the event stepped away from the conventional framework of a product launch, allowing sound, movement and people to take priority. From the start, the focus felt placed less on presentation and more on how the space was used and inhabited. LDN Layers unfolded as a portrait of the city shaped through different perspectives. Four areas of London came together through women-led sports collectives, creatives and DJs, each bringing their own approach and identity, allowing these differences to remain visible. North, south, east and west were present through sound, styling and attitude, without being reduced to labels.
Music anchored the experience throughout the night. DJs ESC, Jaguar, Izzy Bossy, and Silva Snipa moved through garage, electronic, dancehall and jungle, giving each set its own tone while maintaining a sense of continuity. The boxing ring at the centre of the gym became a shared focal point, shifting from its usual function into a space for performance and movement. The room responded as a whole, with the crowd engaging from start to finish.
Between sets, women-led sports collectives entered the ring wearing the new UA Women’s Crop Mock Baselayer. Football teams, running crews, and gym communities moved through the space, presented as active participants rather than styled figures. Fashion here functioned as part of the experience rather than its headline. The baselayer remained understated, working across different settings without drawing attention away from the people wearing it. The idea of versatility came through in practice, shaped by how the garment was used across training, nightlife and everyday movement within the city. The evening reached its closing point with Eliza Rose, a key figure in London’s scene. Born in Hackney, the DJ, producer and vocalist brought a grounded confidence to the decks. When B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All) played, the room shifted, signalling one of the night’s most memorable points.
What defined LDN Layers was its clarity of intention. The event allowed space for London’s communities to lead, without over-framing or spectacle. By placing women at the centre and letting music and movement guide the experience, it reflected a city shaped by collaboration and coexistence.
