As the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is approaching, there’s more and more hype going on about it, and that includes the fashion segment.
Since sportswear has been a big thing in fashion over the last few seasons, it is only normal that there is a strong emphasis on the clothes worn by the players, the accessories used by referees and the items fans can purchase themselves.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup has been the driving force behind some pretty cool gear, which is definitely noteworthy.
Nike
Nike unveiled its 2018 kits for several countries, including Nigeria and England as highlights. The designs for the two teams feature old strips with elements derived from youth culture. Design director Pete Hoppins explained that “the youth culture movement happening in the UK right now is really connected with fashion, music and football” and added that “football players are also style influencers as well” and that this influenced their designs, as they considered not only how they will be worn by the players, but also how fans of the game will wear them on and off the field.
For the Nigerian kits, the brand was inspired by the new Nigerian attitude: fresh, dynamic and bold and thus used a deep green, contrasting with a bright green crest.
The necklines of the t-shirts were quite new and a bit odd, but, who knows, maybe they are just a new approach to soccer equipment that might turn out great.
Adidas
Adidas was responsible for the kits of eight teams, including Germany, Spain and Argentina. They are also the label behind the host country’s looks. When creating the kits for these teams, the German brand looked at the team’s histories and drew inspiration from the footballing histories of the different nations. For example, the Spanish gear features a diamond-shaped printed pattern down the right-hand side, which was last seen on their shirts in the 1994 tournament. Thus, each look has a vintage vibe that has been updated and styled for the last FIFA World Cup of the decade.
A strong highlight were also the Japanese t-shirts, which feature a minimal white all-over print on the front, which mimics the appearance of a Japanese stitching technique called Sashiko, which usually features white intermittent threads on an indigo-dyed material.
In their endeavor, Adidas also made sure to include their latest innovations in terms of technology, which would make sure that the players will be able to make the best of their clothes.
Hublot
Luxury watch brand Hublot, known worldwide for its dynamic approach to timepieces launched its very first smartwatch just in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The watch will be worn by referees, which is why it has been named “Big Bang Referee”. Moreover, Hublot is the official timekeeper for this year’s World Cup.
To make sure the matches will be arbitrated in the best possible way, a Hublot spokesman explained that “the referees’ watches will be connected to goal-line technology, an electronic video assistance system for refereeing which follows all the trajectories of the ball and determines for certain if the ball did or did not entirely cross the goal line.”
Louis Vuitton
For those who like to carry their football with them everywhere they go, Louis Vuitton has decided to celebrate the beautiful game with a collection of leather goods resembling the design of a football. The collection consists of duffels, backpacks, laptop sleeves, wallets, card holders and luggage tags which come in a series of colors, including the red, white and blue of the Russian flag.
Moreover, LV designed a limited-edition FIFA World Cup Official Match Ball Collection Trunk in partnership with Adidas. The price for the trunk has not been disclosed, but it is available upon request. Others items’ prices vary between $325 for luggage tags and $170,000 for custom-made bags in personalized colors.
Saskia Diez
Munich-based designer Saskia Diez has unveiled a series of earrings to represent football formations. Thus, the ladies who will be watching the World Cup will be able to enjoy a series of 11 styles that represent a football team’s formation – namely the arrangement of its players on a pitch. Each of the players in the formations is represented by a pearl, held together by on an 18-karat gold chain.
Many people are excited about unwinding this summer watching the matches of the FIFA World Cup that will start on June 14. 32 teams will be competing as millions will watch from around the world. Designers and clothing labels have put out great supporting equipment for this event, which will very likely be a memorable one for fans of the game.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
4 details to consider when buying sports shoes
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