Inside the UM-Mondetta collaboration
On a video call from Mondetta Clothing’s headquarters in Winnipeg, Creative Director Tony Lavilla runs his fingers over the crest on his chest, tapping the layered lettering stitched into his crewneck sweater. The piece comes from the recent UM-Mondetta collaboration, a partnership that has so far produced two collections: Mondetta x UM and Mondetta x Bisons.
For Lavilla, who attended UM, the partnership feels personal. Mondetta is a homegrown brand 40 years in the making, founded by UM alumni.
“The University of Manitoba is inseparable from the province, and in many ways Mondetta is too,” Lavilla says. “To be able to do this level of execution for UM is a source of pride.”
"We wanted these pieces to feel like keepsakes,” Lavilla says. “For that to happen, they needed to be very rich and compelling. That’s what we do really well—bring visual textures and richness you don’t see that much of these days.”
When Lavilla talks about the collections, he often returns to Mondetta’s early days in the 80s and 90s, when its famous flag sweatshirts became staples people held onto for decades.
The richness is easy to see in the Mondetta x UM crewneck Lavilla is wearing. From a distance, it reads as a classic collegiate sweatshirt. Up close, the details surface.
Across the chest, a large crest that reads “We are all Bisons” anchors the design. Instead of a flat print, Mondetta used felt appliqué with embroidered edges, adding depth and texture that catch the light.
“I wanted someone to look at it and go ‘wow,’ then look again and realize how rich it is because of the layers,” Lavilla says.
That philosophy—bold graphics, layered materials and a heritage-forward aesthetic—runs through every piece in both collections.
On the Mondetta x UM hoodie, oversized “UM” lettering on the front, and Mondetta and UM patches on the sleeves create a distinct, crafted style.
In the Mondetta x Bisons collection, the crewneck spotlights “One Herd,” while the hoodie centres the refreshed Bisons logo. Bold typography and athletic detailing give the pieces a standout look rooted in team spirit.
The attention to detail goes deeper than the surface.
Sustainability is a priority for UM, which made the partnership a natural fit. As a certified B Corp, Mondetta filters decisions through environmental and social standards that start in the supply chain and continue through to the final product. That lens shapes everything from factory partnerships to fabric selection.
“These garments use a blend of organic cotton and recycled fibres,” Lavilla notes, double-checking the tags mid-conversation. “Two ESG-friendly yarns and fabrics blended together.”
That shared commitment to care is part of why the pieces have already struck a chord across the UM community.
“My boys go to UM and they want them,” Lavilla says. “Their friends are asking, my niece is asking.”
Across campus, the reaction has been similar. Students, alumni and staff are noticing the difference in weight, texture and quality when they pick the pieces up in person.
“It’s great when you set out to accomplish something that people want and covet,” Lavilla says. “That’s a wonderful feeling.”
Both collections are available at the UM BookStore.
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