BTS’s V on His New Champion Campaign: ‘My Style Is Pretty Instinctive’

It’s been a good year to be BTS.After starting off 2026 with handwritten letters to some of their most devoted fans, confirming their imminent comeback, the biggest band in the world dropped Arirang, their feverishly anticipated fifth studio album, in March, entering the Billboard charts at No. 1 and handily setting a record for the highest sales week for a group in over a decade.Soon after, the band members embarked on their blockbuster Arirang world tour, playing to sold-out stadiums all over the world. And just two weeks ago, they once again dominated headlines, announcing that they won’t submit music to next year’s Grammys, following the Recording Academy’s controversial announcement that it would include an Asian pop music performance category. But despite a busy year for OT7, the members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook—have also managed to pursue their own projects, flaunting the distinctiveness that has always endeared fans to the group.Courtesy of ChampionToday, V announces his global partnership with the iconic American sportswear brand Champion, in a campaign called “True Champion” that the company says highlights personalities shaping contemporary culture through their “originality, perspective and enduring impact.”The singer calls the brand “a natural fit,” with the values of the campaign personally resonating with him. “To me, being a ‘True Champion’ isn’t about trying to become someone special,” he says. “Just don’t try too hard to be someone else. I think the more you stay true to yourself, the more confident you’ll become.”V—who has been immersed in the fashion world through his presence at industry events and work with luxury brands—says partnering with Champion is perfectly in line with his life off duty.“I’ve always enjoyed mixing different styles instead of sticking to just one. High fashion is exciting, but I also appreciate clothes that feel effortless to wear,” he says. “When I’m at home, I’m usually dressed even more casually than people would think. I spend a lot of time in simple T-shirts and comfortable clothes because I like feeling relaxed. That’s probably why Champion has always felt familiar to me—it fits naturally into the way I actually dress when I’m off camera.”The campaign also hints at the singer’s passion for music and analog culture, featuring images of him playing the trumpet and standing beside a tower of cassettes. It’s an aspect of his personality that perhaps shone most clearly on his 2023 EP Layover, an intimate, low-key collection of jazz-inflected R&B.“There’s a certain warmth and nostalgia to analog culture, and I’m naturally drawn to that feeling,” he explains. “Vinyl is a good example. Even though Bluetooth speakers are convenient and sound great, I still prefer listening to vinyl records because the whole experience feels more personal and meaningful.”In a Vogue Japan interview from early this year, V talked about gravitating toward the color red. “I always try to include a hint of red [in my outfits],” he said. True enough, one of his Champion items follows that style rule: “My favorite is the gray long-sleeve shirt with the red Champion logo,” he says. “I really liked how the red stands out nicely against the gray and adds just the right pop of color. It’s casual, but the logo gives it just enough character.”Toward the end of the shows on the Arirang world tour, OT7 changes into casual clothes for the last section of the concert, highlighting the distinct personalities and the dynamic that have made the group so compelling. V’s own style has grown by leaps and bounds through the years.“Being in this industry, I’ve had the privilege of working with many different brands and seeing a wide range of styles over the years,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot from just looking at their collections and figuring out what works best for me, and that’s where I get much of my inspiration.”All of that sartorial experimentation has helped him land on a firmer sense of self. “My style is pretty instinctive,” he says. “I just go with whatever catches my eye and wear what feels right. For me, that's what it means to champion who I am.”