The launch of Emporio Armani underwear collection is eminent. February will welcome the American branch of the line that has been available in Europe for years. Giorgio has tapped the assets of David Beckham to be the “face” of the campaign.

“WWD has learned Beckham has been signed as the global face of Emporio Armani underwear. Beckham was shooting the ad campaign in Los Angeles late last week with Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The ads will break in fashion magazines worldwide beginning with the January issues.”

[WWD]

The underwear designed by the fashion legend will hit Emporio stores December with a soft launch. Then in January Macy’s and Bloomingdales will carry the goods online. February will mark the official launch, which will bring the line into the stores themselves.

David Beckham is no stranger to the world of Armani. He and Giorgio designed the uniforms for the English soccer (football to the Europeans) team back in 2002. Armani has also been forging a relationship between fashion and sports for years. He is responsible for putting threads on the backs of Russell Crowe’s Australian rugby team. The players were also treated to front row seats at his fashion show in Milan.

I can just see models everywhere begin to nervously look into joining the football team. Then again, my idea of the male model is similar to the “Zoolander” movie. I picture men in thigh high shorts throwing a ball to one another and screaming, “I thought we agreed not to get the ball anywhere near our faces!”

Picture note by Celebitchy: David Beckham is shown at the premiere of “Lions For Lambs” on 11/1/07, thanks to PRPhotos.