Football shirts have become an international trade. Find out the major factors why replica kits have become so popular
Soccer is arguably the greatest sport on earth. In lots of places, it is followed fanatically where the result of a match can set your spirits for the rest of the week. Most fans cheer on their local club, yet the swift globalisation of the game means that many elite clubs have an international fanbase. For the people picking out a team outside geography, there are numerous different factors which can pull you in. The finest clubs in football history are celebrated for their world-class players, magnificent grounds and classic football kits. The famous Catalonian club is so popular not simply for their trophies, but also the iconic blue and garnet (blaugrana) strip. Similarly, the owner of AC Milan has experienced the same colours as the players set foot inside the pitch. With grand teams like these, the shirts are instantly familiar to passionate enthusiasts and casual observers.
When football was first invented, people would just throw on whatever was nearest in their wardrobe. Today, professional players are decked out in the latest scientifically engineered, fashion conscious and sponsorship branded uniform. The changing appearance illustrates the increasing professionalism and funding in the game. Annually, a small number of players line up to officially celebrate the latest home and away strips (and sporadically garish third kits) that stock up the club stores. But despite these commercial ventures, many fans are moving back to older designs. The increasing appeal of retro football shirts is often rooted in nostalgia specifically amongst older fans. Iconic strips from trophy winning teams are recalled. The unorthodox designs also stick out. Who can forget the mushed banana appearance worn around Highbury in the past? The owner of Coventry City is unlikely to forget the brown away kit that drew headlines some decades back.
Not so long ago, putting on the full football kit was reserved for children and matchday mascots. Yet over the past few decades, it has transformed into an international markets of replica football kits and knockoffs. Manufacturing the most current shorts, tops and socks is a science in itself. The shirts are engineered with innovative fabrics for convenience and suppleness. A specific material named wicking fabric is recommended with polymer fibres to prevent it from capturing perspiration. But the design goes beyond what goes into the manufacturing process. Many players resemble mobile marketing billboards nowadays. It may appear unimportant, but specifically players pull over themselves is valuable from a commercial point of view. As an example, it is commonly understood that clubs in red sell the most tops in Asia, which is perceived as a lucky color. Corporate sponsorship campaigns frequently drive the design. But this doesn't constantly run smoothly. The owner of Cardiff became a topic of discussion when he changed the traditional colors from blue to red.