UK charity Show Racism the Red Card collaborated with marketing brand McCann London to develop the shirt ahead of last year’s Fifa World Cup, following the racist abuse experienced by Black members of England’s men’s squad after the Euro 2020 final. It contains elements of the England kit patchworked with 13 other countries’ strips, alongside a swing tag that features a breakdown of the players’ nationalities.
The vibrant jersey highlights the multicultural roots of England’s footballers – many of whom have migrated to the UK. The team includes players from countries such as Ireland and New Zealand who aren’t subjected to the same xenophobia and discrimination as their Black teammates. The campaign aims to illustrate some of the many benefits immigration poses to the UK – like gaining skilled athletes – amidst increasingly hostile policies by its government.
"The shirt spreads a positive message of diversity and inclusion, and opens people's eyes to the rich heritage of the England squad,” Paul Kearns, deputy chief executive of Show Racism the Red Card, told UK design magazine Creative Boom. A limited run of the strip has been made for the charity to use as an educational tool in schools and grassroots football teams.
Heritage crafts, like patchwork and quilting, are becoming a go-to medium for creatives who want to explore their personal identities and communicate modern cultural richness and togetherness. Stylus members can see our S/S 23 Colour & Materials Direction Gather and A/W 23/34 Direction Joy for more on this theme.
