Blokecore

BLOKECORE;

It appears that the TikTok generation have their own style preferences when it comes to Football and Fashion. Vintage Football Shirts, Straight or Baggy Jeans and adidas Sambas. Sound familiar? Maybe not to the 20 something Generation Z brigade who are too young to have witnessed the original 30 years of hurt, never mind the 56 and counting, now. But us older guys have been there, seen it and bought the football shirt. Because as you will already know, Fashion is cyclical and in years gone by, the Blokecore look had another iteration in the form of Italian Serie A Football Shirts paired with adidas Gazelles. The Casual Culture of the 80s transformed into the Rave scene and then the Britpop era of the 90s with the Gallaghers being photographed in Man City tops whilst Damon Albarn pranced around in Italian made Tracksuit Tops with adidas or Nike Trainers. I even remember seeing a photo in the Arena magazine of a Paul Smith runway show where the model had a striped Man City top on. Casuals took it upon themselves to acquire the Italian Shirts whilst on the Continent.

Almost 30 years on and the wearing of Vintage Football Shirts becomes mainstream, but is it due to a few guys on TikTok in 2021 or is there a simpler explanation. In the last 5 or so years Football Shirt websites like ClassicFootballShirts.co.uk have exploded onto the scene with its vast collection of Shirts from Clubs across the globe plus author Neal Heard published ‘The Football Shirt’ Book with great success. With the exposure that comes with social media these two forms of consumer goods have brought a fine art form (the design of the Shirts), to the fore. Once the major brands see a way of making money, you can guarantee there’ll be some cool collaborations and new design coming our way. From as early as 2014, Surfing brand Stussy produced a ’NTRNTNL’ Soccer Collection with its own take on Football Shirts. Yes, a Surfing Brand. In the years since many brands have released their own designs, including my own 80s Casuals label as the popularity of wearing a Football Shirt grew. The major labels involvement can only make what may have started as an Underground movement, become ubiquitous. Hence, Football Clubs and Shirt makers putting a lot more thought into their seasonal releases. Check out the latest Venezia F.C. kits. Cool designs, cool photos, cool backdrop etc etc. An instagram hit. What’s not to like?

Also skintight jeans have had their day, so it makes sense that the hip youth will be onto straight and far more baggier jeans as the fashion houses across Europe feed us baggier, wider cut trousers.

Maybe I’m looking too deeply into the latest fashion trend. The stars may have aligned. Liam is back en-trend, adidas trainers are being released in their droves, kids want their own style, always something your dad wouldn’t wear and those Italian shirt wearing Casuals of the 90s are just a tad too old, and probably carrying a touch excess weight now, to ever look cool in a retro Sampdoria top. Hopefully the Lad Culture of the 90s won’t be repeated but the use of ‘Blokecore’ to frame the style doesn’t give us much hope. There’ll be those who’ll wear vintage or even new Football Shirts with adidas who won’t want the association with the ‘Blokecore’ branding, maybe they’ll be the ones who take any forthcoming Football style off in a new direction.

DAVE HEWITSON. SEASON FANZINE WINTER 22/23