While the unique all-white kit is notable for its clean, classic, simplified look, it is the product of a complex design journey. Umbro has reclaimed its proud heritage with a modern, ‘Football Tailoring’ concept, which involved fitting sessions for every player, making each individual squad member’s kit unique to them.
Umbro’s design team, headed up by senior designer David Blanch, was joined by noted RCA graduate Aitor Throup, a specialist in motion design and Savile Row trained tailor Charlie Allen. Together they deconstructed the traditional kit and evaluated every stitch and seam in relation to its purpose in football.
Kit design and detail
The England kit has drawn on the inspiration of iconic images from the past. The new kit is completely white to focus attention towards the bold new ‘Three Lions’ Crest recently created by The FA. The only other colour on the kit is a classic and understated red Umbro diamond alongside the crest.
The gold star, first introduced in 2003 to celebrate England’s 1966 World Cup triumph, has been changed to a tone on tone version.
The kit is manufactured from the most high performance fabrications available and has 20% cotton content. The resulting matt finish is a radical departure from previous Polyester football strips and makes the shirt more comfortable for players and fans alike. The shirt boasts a formal placket collar and bespoke buttons.
The ventilation in the new shirt does not use the usual mesh fabric and is instead perforated with small ventilation holes under the arms and in the lower back. The pattern of the holes is taken from the position of the roses on the Crest. This system of ventilation holes creates an effective airflow to cool the body.
Base layer, shorts and socks
Umbro started the design process with the base layer, building the garments from the inside out. Subsequently, this is the first football shirt designed to work in tandem with a base. This is the first base layer to be designed specifically for football, protecting the areas of the body that come under the most strain during a match. Full base layers will be available for the upper body, thighs and calves, all featuring expandable components that provide support and freedom of movement.
For over 30 years the England home shorts have been dark blue, but in order to reflect the purity of the kit worn by the England team in 1966, white shorts have been reintroduced. With only tone on tone badging, the overall effect perfectly mirrors the integrity of England kits from the past. A dark blue version will be available for when the team’s colours clash with their opposition.
The tailoring theme has been applied to the shorts for the England players. Each player will have the choice of three lengths so that their shorts, like their shirts, perfectly match each player’s measurements.
Umbro has also paid great attention to the socks. There is no branding, but the real innovation is in how the socks have been constructed. Seams around the foot have been removed to reduce the likelihood of players suffering from blisters during tournaments and specially constructed ankle joints have been incorporated to ensure a perfect fit.
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