Fabric of the Game
Designed for sports, yet they have sparked rebellions, symbolized support, and influenced fashion trends. With a history so unique and deeply intertwined with various facets of culture, soccer shirts have transcended their role as mere sportswear.
Available via Pinterest © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Kickin’ the balls through the decades, soccer is a sport rich not only in action but also in culture, fashion, and movements. Soccer has evolved beyond being just a sport—it’s become so much more. Perhaps one of the reasons for this doesn’t lie in the act of the sport itself but in its apparel. Far from being a shirt exclusively worn by elite soccer players on the field, soccer shirts have navigated decades of luxury fashion, streetwear, culturally significant protests, and the everyday lives of devoted fans. A shirt designed for sport has sparked rebellions, symbolized support, and influenced fashion trends. Nothing quite blurs the lines of reality like sportswear transcending its original purpose. Let’s dive into the rich history of this apparel and follow its journey through time to the iconic status it holds today.
We all start somewhere, and for soccer jerseys, that beginning was on the field - in wool. Born in the late 19th century, the woolen soccer jersey was the first of its kind. Designed with durability in mind, it had its flaws. Imagine kicking a ball around a field in a woolen shirt. Weather, particularly rain, quickly became a problem, as it soaked into the jersey, making it heavy and wet - anything but ideal for sports. However, these early jerseys were functional for one crucial reason: they helped identify players on the field. One of the first recorded instances of this was during the first international game in 1872 between Scotland and England, where players wore team-identifying shirts. Thus, in wool and for identification, the soccer jersey was born. But this was only the beginning. In the 1970s, a pivotal change occurred with the introduction of synthetic materials like polyester. This innovation aimed to improve performance, with fabrics better suited to sports. Adidas made a name for itself by introducing Dri-FIT technology, featuring lightweight, sweat-wicking materials that finally aligned the apparel with the sport's demands. And then came sponsorships, which transformed not only the look of soccer jerseys but also their cultural significance. In 1973, the German team Eintracht Braunschweig became one of the first to secure a sponsorship deal, partnering with Jägermeister. From there, sponsorships deals rapidly grew. An iconic early example was Manchester United’s partnership with Sharp Electronics in 1982, which became the blueprint for modern kit sponsorships. So, slowly but surely, soccer jerseys began evolving - and this was just the beginning.
Jägermeister & Eintracht Braunschweig, “Ich trinke Jägermeister, weil…”, Sapeur © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
These jerseys serve as time capsules of their cultural moments. Soccer jerseys gained deeper meaning as they began to symbolize national pride. During the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the Nigerian national team’s vibrant green jerseys became a powerful emblem of African pride. Similarly, Diego Maradona’s blue Argentina shirt became a symbol of sporting excellence and national identity during a time of political unrest. Jerseys started to transcend their role as sportswear and began functioning as political statements. In 1978, Dutch soccer player Johan Cruyff famously refused to wear Adidas-branded, three-striped shirts due to his sponsorship deal with Puma, cutting off the stripes instead. Beyond politics, these jerseys also became tools for fostering fan solidarity. Liverpool fans used the club’s shirt as a unifying symbol of justice after the tragic Hillsborough Disaster in 1989, where 97 fans lost their lives in an overcrowded stadium. Soccer shirts began to spread beyond the field, appearing in advertisements, protests, and fan gatherings, becoming symbols of support and in important historical moments.
Diego Maradona, 1986, Britannica © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Yet, with such a strong foundation in politics and culture, the meaning of soccer jerseys continued to evolve. Today, jerseys are a staple in fashion, seen everywhere - from young fans to older supporters and even people who simply love their aesthetic. This shift began in the 1990s when soccer shirts became central to casual streetwear, with rappers and celebrities embracing them. Famously, Drake wore a Juventus shirt in 2016, significantly boosting its global popularity. There are countless similar examples of celebrities donning soccer jerseys as symbols of support or purely as fashion statements. Soccer shirts also entered the luxury fashion world. In 2018, Paris Saint-Germain collaborated with Jordan Brand, merging sports aesthetics with high fashion. Balenciaga’s 2020 collection took this a step further, featuring retro-inspired soccer shirts that captivated the fashion world. Following the popularity of soccer jerseys in streetwear, luxury brands embraced the trend. Sportswear giants like Umbro and Nike also revived 1990s soccer shirts, once again turning these vintage designs into a fashion phenomenon. Today, soccer jerseys have become a universal style, worn as both fashion statements and symbols of support.
Balenciaga FC FC Soccer series, Jovelle Melad for Culted, Culted © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
It’s this versatility that truly allows the soccer jersey to transcend time. Through key moments and cultural shifts, these jerseys have become deeply connected to broader societal changes. Soccer shirts are now everywhere and hold significant meaning for many. Yet, with their popularization and crossover into streetwear and luxury fashion, have they lost their original essence? Originally designed to identify players and later embraced as symbols of fan solidarity, jerseys are now accessible to anyone - fan or not. Has this evolution diluted their meaning, or is it the ultimate testament to their greatness? Perhaps this is just the natural progression of a garment so iconic that it deserves to be worn by everyone. What do you think?
