Asymmetrical lines. Neon colors. Checkered patterns. So long basic sweatpants and T-shirts. With millions of dollars in publicity and retail sales involved, today’s sports uniforms are making headlines for striking design, eye-popping details, and meaningful messages.
Tennis was once played only by the rich. For years, players wore only “tennis whites.” Wearing all white showed that you had the money to have your clothes washed often. Plus, sweat spots on colored clothing—gasp!—were thought improper. Today, most tennis players sport flamboyant combos from novelty bandanas to vibrant shoes.
On the other end of the uniform spectrum lies football, also known around the world as soccer. Roger Bennett is half of a wacky British soccer commentating duo. Bennett says soccer advertising has changed sports fashion. He’s seen uniforms go from “functional garments . . . to the single-most lucrative billboard in the world.”
The Bible discourages paying too much attention to clothing and other externals. God’s word encourages us that “the hidden person of the heart” matters most. (1 Peter 3:3-4) But it’s helpful to remember that clothing can express personality and loyalties—outlandish, energetic, or nostalgic.
This year, Australia’s World Cup football jerseys were gold with swirling lines on the shoulders and sleeves of home uniforms. The algae-green lines celebrate the country’s border on oceans and seas, says Nike senior design director Pete Hoppins. Australia’s away kit was green with a diagonal slash of yellow and lighter green touches on the front, a tribute to Australia’s 2006 jerseys.
Nigeria’s World Cup shirts popped bright green, white, and black with a buzzy chevron pattern. The jerseys have been a hit. Hoppins says, “We’ve never seen anything like this before in terms of excitement,” referring to the crowds buying Nigerian jerseys.
Other sports have had their moments in the fashion spotlight. Many hockey, baseball, and American football uniforms have been noteworthy. Remember the Anaheim Ducks’ eerie masked cartoon water bird? What about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2012 black-and-gold striped “bumblebee” outfits?
Feelings about uniform fashion run deep. Soccer commentator Bennett accepted the deep pride and symbolism of Croatia’s red-and-white checkerboard World Cup uniforms. He knows they hint at the country’s flag and medieval coat of arms. But he wasn’t a fan. “I find it fairly terrifying,” he says. “It’s a tablecloth.”
What does Bennett like? Japan’s jersey. It’s a rich blue and recalls the ancient Japanese technique of sashiko, hand-stitching in rows down the front.
“It’s utterly captivating,” Bennett says, calling it “everything that’s beautiful about a national football jersey.”
1st Comment
I LOVE SOCCER!!!!
2nd comment
1st is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the treasure chest. Btw, cool article
that heirs A lot I no how
that heirs A lot I no how you felled Ind that happen to me ones wen I was 10
No SUBJECT
Argentina's blacks are the best, in my opinion.
Massimo A
I LOVE SOCER;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''/\];;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
wow
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW
I agree with you
I totally agree with you Nadia. SOCCER IS THE BEST.
P.S. Second is the first loser.
coooolllllllllll
i like the nigerian uniforms better than any other uniform becuse the design is cool and i like the colors. i also thought it was funny how the dude said Croatia's uniform looked like a tablecloth.
GO PACK GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Green and Gold. Those are the best uniforms ever, and they haven't been changed for a long time nad they won't be changing it for a while either because of the Packers' great history.
The Vikings are horrible
wow erwin
i personally like the SKOL vikings jers-SKOL-eys the m-SKOL-ost esp-SKOL-essialy their c-SKOL-olor rush j-SKOL-erseys and t-SKOL-heir chants-SKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOL-vikes.
Best Fans in the NFL
The Packers are owned by their fans and have the best fans around. The Vikings fans are just jealous.
thats what they all say
SKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOL-vikes.
SKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOLSKOL
(noah is jelous)
Nigeria
I like Argentina's uniforms. my basketball team is green and black.
o Canada
CANADA ALL THE WAY, XD!!!
12345678
(8 things i Know about you #1 your reading this #2 you cant say the letter "p" having your lips touching #3 you just tried it #5 you didn't notice we skipped number"4"
#6 you just tried it #7 you have a letter in your name #8 you just thought in your mind thet "of course i have a letter in my name) ANY WAY I LOVE SOCCER!!!!!!!!!!
error number six meant " you
error number six meant " you just looked for number 4"
wow
I don't know which one i liked best but they were all super colorful, if i were the other team i would get destracted.
Go Pack Go!
I agree with Noah, green and gold rule! Other teams change there uniforms, but the Packers will never because it's so good! (And because of the history, blah, blah, blah!) The other NFL teams are terrible especially THE ONES THAT HAVE FANS THAT KEEP CHANTING SKOL OVER AND OVER! (Hem hem, BEN! And others...) But over all, uniforms are a big part of sports and it would be soooooooooo boring if everyone just wore neutral colored plain uniforms. GO PACKERS!
I love the steelerss
I love the steelerss
A.R.
I'm a Patriots fan. How can you beat red, white, and blue?
A.R.
I do like the Packers though.
that face though
the jersey looks trash i mean really trash
soccer is by far the worst
soccer is by far the worst sport everrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You should go die in a hole
How could say something like that?!?!? What are you a football fan? Soccer you have to rely on your brain as well as your skill. But Football you just go where your told and hope you get the ball. Football is so slow also. Soccer is a fast moving game with lots of excitement.
A.R. @ Sophia K.
That was rather impolite Sophia. Not everyone has to like soccer and you can like both sports. I like soccer and I am a football fan. Actually, football takes a lot of brains, quarterbacks have to throw the ball to the right guy at the right time while having people trying to tackle them. Also they have to remember plays. Guys on the defense have to try to figure out what the other team is going to do before they do it! That takes brains.
Also, while soccer is basically always going, football is constantly going really hard, then reseting, then going really hard again. Soccer is probably more fast paced at most points but football can really get going fast when they time is running out and your team is behind.
What is your favorite soccer team?
VIKINGS
Vikings are by far the best team...Purple and Gold? Makes for super cool uniforms....and tbh Green and Yellow grosses me out! SKOL!!!
Osborne's sister writing
Wow, it is amazing how thing changed
lol I bet they would freak out if they saw nowadays people playing
Molly
Emily K
I like soccer, but sometimes I get bored watching it, because it can go quite slowly. I guess that it feels slow for me because I watch, and play, lot's of ice hockey, which is probably the fastest sport in the world. :)
Bayern Munchen with T-mobile
Bayern Munchen with T-mobile all the way
Football
The New England Patriots, and all other Massachusetts teams, are the best!!! But if you want to talk soccer, the Boston Revolution is really good.
Go Cuba
just saying, Cuba is the baseball g.o.a.t., don't @ me!
i love the world cup
i love the world cup
More designs would be great!
Bennet is part of the Men in Blazers, an awesome pair of podcasters. I also wish there was more colors and patterns in pro soccer, as the majority of teams have all-white and all-single colored kits. Also, vibrant patterns such as Nigeria's jerseys make a team memorable even though they didn't perform all that well.
Luka Modric
The Croatian pictured is Luka Modric, one of the best midfeilders in the world who played brilliantly during the WC, leading them to the finals.
Wow
Go Steelers! (But, seriously, those 2012 unis were UGLY!)
good article
soccer is ok
im just reading it for a school project
btw its really informative
gren is nigerea red is
gren is nigerea red is croashea
(Sophie B)
the vikings ARE horrible, but the Packers are sorta slipping
(Sophie B)
also know every one is fighting. stop fighting people we ALL have different opinions
I'm not a huge sports fan (no
I'm not a huge sports fan (no offense, everyone!) but I still thought this article was cool.
uummm. sk
my brother massimo wrote that.
not me!!