Words: Jonee // @Jonee13
Football kits are far more than fabric; they are vibrant emblems of identity and dynamic canvases of creativity. From the heavy woollen shirts of the 19th-century to the sleek, aerodynamic jerseys of the modern era, football kits have evolved in lockstep with the sport, mirroring societal transformations, technological breakthroughs, and the global explosion of the beautiful game. The “golden age” of football kits, in my mind, spans multiple decades, defined by designs that became symbols of national pride, club devotion, and street fashion.
Let’s delve into the rich history, artistry, and cultural weight of football kits.
Every football kit tells a story. They weave narratives of triumph, misery and belonging. The Netherlands’ orange kit, born in the 1974 World Cup, embodies the fluidity of Total Football, its vibrant hue igniting “Oranjegekte” across Dutch streets. Nigeria’s 1994 kit, with its bold green and black geometric patterns, announced the Super Eagles’ global arrival, resonating with fans from Lagos to London. Brazil’s yellow shirt, reinvented after the 1950 Maracanazo, radiates the samba flair of Pelé and Ronaldinho. Colombia’s colourful designs, from 1980s diagonals to 2018’s retro stripes, mirror a nation’s vibrancy amid adversity. Nike’s 2000s kits, like Arsenal’s deep red or Brazil’s golden glow, fused cutting-edge performance with cultural cachet, while Adidas and Umbro transformed kits into fashion staples. These designs have become cultural touchpoints for people in the modern day, and we see football kits worn in stadiums, at protests, and in music videos. They crop up everywhere.
The evolution of kits reflects football’s journey. Early designs prioritized function—wool for warmth, colours for distinction—but grew into symbols of identity as clubs and nations codified their legacies. The post-war era saw kits globally prominent, their spread amplified by television. The 1970s introduced commercialization, with brands like Adidas branding the Netherlands’ orange with three stripes. The 1980s embraced bold patterns, as Colombia’s kits dazzled. While the 90s globalized kit culture, with Nigeria’s designs sparking streetwear trends.
Adidas and Umbro, alongside Nike, have been architects of this legacy for decades now. Adidas’s three-stripe motif, from 1970s tracksuits to Y-3 couture, bridges sport and style, while Umbro’s heritage designs, like Liverpool’s 1977 red, evoke terrace pride. Adidas and Umbro’s fan fashion influence, doubled with their embrace of terrace culture, created a legacy that endures on pitches, streets, and beyond.
Marco van Basten models The Netherlands’ 1988 home kit.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Football’s earliest kits were rudimentary, born from necessity rather than design. In the mid-19th century, when the sport was codified in England, players wore heavy cotton or woollen shirts, often in colours borrowed from school or club affiliations. These early kits were practical but cumbersome. Teams distinguished themselves with simple patterns—stripes, hoops, or halves—since standardized uniforms were rare. The 1870s saw the first international match between England and Scotland, where players donned makeshift kits: England in white, Scotland in navy. These choices laid the groundwork for national identity in kit design.
By the late 19th century, clubs began adopting consistent colours, driven by the growing popularity of the Football League. Arsenal’s red and white, inspired by Nottingham Forest’s donated shirts, and Manchester United’s red (then as Newton Heath’s green and gold) emerged as early examples of kits becoming symbols of local pride. Manufacturers like Umbro, founded in 1924, entered the scene, producing tailored shirts that prioritized function over flair. Umbro’s early designs set a standard for reliability, earning the trust of clubs across England and eventually the world. These kits weren’t yet fashion statements, but they marked the beginning of a visual language that would define football.
The 1920s and 1930s saw incremental improvements. Cotton replaced wool, reducing weight, while designs became more structured, with collars and buttons adding a touch of formality. Clubs like Everton and Tottenham introduced crests embedding local heritage and enhancing the contribution of the football kit to club and supporter identity. International kits also evolved, with England’s white shirts featuring the three lions and Brazil’s early white kits reflecting neutrality. The era’s simplicity laid a foundation for the bold designs that would follow in the post-war era, as kits began to carry the weight of more than just club colours.
The Rutger College football team of 1891, in their rudminetary kits.
Photo Credit: WikiMedia
The post-World War II era saw football kits evolve into powerful symbols of national and cultural identity, as the sport globalized through events like the World Cup. Brazil’s yellow kit, introduced in 1950, became one of the most iconic designs in football history. After the 1950 Maracanazo, where Uruguay stunned Brazil in the World Cup final, a national contest was held to redesign Brazil’s kit, previously white. The winning design, a vibrant canary yellow shirt with green trim, nicknamed “O Canarinho” (The Little Canary), was created by 19-year-old Aldyr Garcia Schlee. The kit debuted in 1958, when a young Pelé led Brazil to their first World Cup title in Sweden. The yellow shirt, paired with blue shorts and white socks, became synonymous with samba football—fluid, joyful, and unstoppable.
The Brazil kit’s brilliance lay in its simplicity. The yellow evoked the sunlit optimism of a nation rebuilding after war, while the green trim reflected the Amazon’s lush vitality. By 1970, when Brazil won their third World Cup in Mexico, the kit was immortalized in colour television. Today, Brazil’s yellow shirt is a cultural icon, worn not just by fans but as a symbol of Brazilian identity, from Carnival to street protests. Its influence extends to fashion, with brands like Nike (Brazil’s kit maker since 1996) producing retro-inspired streetwear that nods to the 1970 design.
Across the Atlantic, Umbro continued to shape kit culture in England. The brand supplied kits for the 1966 World Cup, including England’s red away shirt, worn during their 4-2 final victory over West Germany. Umbro’s designs were understated yet functional, with lightweight cotton replacing wool and subtle details like embroidered crests adding prestige. Umbro’s work with clubs like Manchester United and Everton also fostered a sense of tradition, as fans began wearing replica shirts to matches, a trend that laid the foundation for kits as fan fashion. By the 1960s, Umbro’s influence was global, with the brand outfitting teams in South America and Africa, cementing its role as a pioneer in kit manufacturing.
Adidas, emerging in the 1950s, brought innovation to the scene. Their 1954 World Cup kit for West Germany, a white shirt with black shorts and three stripes, marked their football debut. The use of synthetic blends improved flexibility, while the bold branding set a new standard. Adidas’s early designs, like Hungary’s red and green kits, showed their ability to blend national colors with modern aesthetics, laying the groundwork for their later dominance in kit design and fan fashion.
West Germany, World Cup Winners 1954, wearing an early Adidas kit.
Photo Credit: FIFA
The 1970s marked a pivotal shift for football kits, as commercialization and colour television transformed the sport into a global spectacle. The advent of vibrant broadcasts demanded eye-catching designs. The Netherlands’ orange kit, debuted during the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, stands as one of the era’s defining creations. Designed by Adidas, the kit’s radiant orange—rooted in the national colour of the House of Orange-Nassau—was paired with black trim, black shorts, and the brand’s iconic three stripes along the sleeves. This sleek, minimalist shirt, with its tailored fit and lightweight polyester, contrasted sharply with the bulkier cotton kits of the past.
The 1974 kit was inseparable from Total Football, the revolutionary philosophy pioneered by Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. This fluid system captivated audiences, and the orange kit became its visual emblem. Worn during the Netherlands’ run to the World Cup final, the kit shone in matches like the 4-0 thrashing of Argentina, where Cruyff’s artistry dazzled. Despite the 2-1 final loss to West Germany, the orange shirt became a symbol of Dutch creativity and resilience. Cruyff’s personal rebellion—removing one of Adidas’s three sleeve stripes due to his Puma sponsorship, creating a two-stripe version—added another layer of uniqueness, making the kit legendary in football lore.
Adidas’ design, with its prominent trefoil logo and lion crest, introduced branding as a core element of kit identity, setting a precedent for the commercial partnerships we see today. They dominated the 1970s kit market, leveraging innovations like synthetic fabrics and heat-pressed logos to enhance performance and aesthetics. Adidas’ ability to incorporate cultural elements, like flags or heraldic motifs, helped kits transcend the pitch, influencing casual sportswear trends. Their tracksuits, worn by 1970s subcultures like reggae fans and early hip-hop artists, laid the groundwork for kits as fan fashion.
On the other hand, Umbro excelled in club kits, producing designs like Liverpool’s 1977 red shirt, worn during their first European Cup triumph over Borussia Mönchengladbach. The kit’s simple red base, with white trim and an embroidered Liverbird, became a symbol of the club’s golden era. Their reach eventually expanded globally, extending to South America, with kits for Peru’s 1978 team, featuring a red. Umbro’s replicas, increasingly affordable, were worn by fans in pubs and terraces, making football kits more accessible and helping the spread of terrace culture to the streets. By the decade’s end, Umbro’s craftsmanship and Adidas’s innovation had transformed kits into vehicles of identity, setting the stage for the bold designs of the 1980s.
The Adidas Peru kit of 1978.
Photo Credit: NASL Jerseys
The 1980s were a golden age for football kit design, defined by audacious patterns, vivid colours, and a fearless embrace of experimentation. Kits became visual spectacles, reflecting cultural identities and pushing creative boundaries. Colombia’s national team kits, crafted by Adidas, epitomized this exuberance. The 1986 World Cup qualifying kit, a radiant yellow shirt with bold red and blue diagonal stripes across the chest, captured Colombia’s vibrant spirit. Paired with navy shorts, the design drew inspiration from the nation’s carnival culture, its geometric flair echoing the colourful street art of Bogotá.
Colombia’s 1990 World Cup kit took the vibrancy further, featuring red, yellow, and blue colour blocks that paid homage to the national flag. Worn during Colombia’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, the kit shone in their 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates and a dramatic 1-1 draw with West Germany, where Freddy Rincón’s last-gasp goal sparked celebrations. The kit’s bold design resonated deeply with fans during a turbulent decade in Colombia’s history.
Adidas drove kit innovation further. Their 1986 Denmark kit, a halved red-and-white shirt with chevron details, showcased sublimated prints—patterns embedded into the fabric. Adidas’ work with clubs, like Juventus’s 1985 black-and-white stripes with yellow accents, blended sport with art. The brand introduced moisture-wicking polyester, improving player comfort.
Umbro refined its craft with iconic club kits, notably Liverpool’s 1985-86 double-breasted red shirt, featuring pinstripes and a crown logo honouring the club’s European dominance. Worn during their First Division title under Kenny Dalglish, the kit’s embossed Liverbird and tailored fit made it a fan favourite. Umbro’s 1990 World Cup kit for England, with subtle blue diamond patterns, balanced tradition and modernity, its design later inspiring retro streetwear brands.
Umbro’s attention to heritage made their kits timeless, coveted by fans who saw them as extensions of identity. Their work with smaller clubs, like Lens’s 1980s gold-and-red kits in France, preserved a grassroots charm, while global contracts, such as Scotland’s 1986 navy kit with white accents, showcased versatility. Umbro’s replicas, increasingly affordable, flooded terraces and pubs, bridging sport and culture. By the late 1980s, kits were no longer confined to the pitch; they were fashion statements, worn with jeans and Doc Martens, influencing 1980s youth movements from casuals to ravers.
The 1980s kit boom reflected football’s growing commercialization, with brands leveraging World Cups and European competitions to reach new markets. They set a high bar for the 1990s.
The Colombia squad at Italia ‘90.
Photo Credit: El Espectador
The 1990s were a transformative decade for football kits. Nigeria’s national team kits, crafted by Nike, became immensely popular, redefining kit design with their bold aesthetics and cultural resonance. The 1994 World Cup kit, a vibrant green shirt adorned with black and white geometric patterns inspired by Yoruba and Igbo textiles, was a radical departure from the era’s more conventional designs. Worn by stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Rashidi Yekini, and Sunday Oliseh, the kit earned the Super Eagles a cult following. The loose fit, typical of 1990s kits, and its intricate patterns made it a visual standout.
Nike’s work with Nigeria showcased their knack for fusing cultural heritage with modern aesthetics. The 1994 kit’s design drew from traditional Nigerian art, with angular patterns evoking woven fabrics, making it a wearable symbol of national pride. Its global appeal was immediate, with replicas selling out across Europe and North America. The 1996 Olympics kit, building on this legacy, featured a deeper green with intricate eagle motif. Worn during Nigeria’s gold-medal run, including a 3-2 upset over Brazil, the kit cemented the Super Eagles’ reputation for iconic designs. These kits influenced global fashion, with urban brands like Fubu and Sean John adopting similar bold prints and sporty silhouettes. The 2018 World Cup kit, a Nike revival with a zigzag green-and-white pattern, paid homage to 1994, selling three million units pre-release and becoming a streetwear staple worn by celebrities like Wizkid and Skepta.
Brazil’s 1998 World Cup kit, also by Nike, reinforced the yellow shirt’s status as football’s most iconic and recognisable design. Building on the legacy of the 1958 “O Canarinho,” the 1998 kit featured a modernized fit with subtle blue star accents above the crest, representing Brazil’s four World Cup titles, and a sleek collar for a polished look. The kit became a global bestseller. The kits basically sold themselves. Nike’s marketing, with campaigns featuring Ronaldo’s step overs and Rivaldo’s flair, amplified the kit’s reach. The kit’s influence extended to fashion, with Nike producing retro-inspired streetwear lines in the 2000s.
Nike’s designs for Nigeria and Brazil highlighted their 1990s ascendancy. Their global marketing machine, fuelled by stars like Okocha and Ronaldo, turned kits into commodities, worn by fans and non-fans alike. The 1994 Nigeria kit’s streetwear appeal, with its oversized fit, inspired hip-hop artists, while Brazil’s 1998 kit became a favourite item to be worn outside of the stadium.
The 1990s proved to be a significant era for kit design; not just for the iconic kits produced throughout, but for how kit design was somewhat reigned in as we entered the new millenium.
Nigeria at the 1996 Olmpics.
Photo Credit: These Football Times