Football kits are never just worn, they’re seen by hundreds or even thousands of people and often become iconic because of the colours, the sponsor or the team that wears them.
However, in some cases, the shirt or kit’s message is the most important aspect, and these are the best football kits to prove that sentiment.
1. Levante UD’s mud-stained shirts
On November 16th, 2024, Levante UD wore shirts designed to look mud-stained in tribute to the people impacted by the Valencia flash floods. More than 220 people were killed and streets were submerged in water after torrential rain led to the deadliest natural disaster in Spain’s history.
The team wore the mud-stained shirts before the match, with the names of all the places impacted written on the back in place of their usual numbers. They returned to wearing their usual jerseys during the match, however the sponsor was replaced with the Catalan words “Sempre amb el nostre poble”, translating to “Always with our people”.
The shirts worn by the team were then auctioned off, raising approximately £13,200 through the Levante UD Foundation, and proceeds went to the victims affected by the floods.
Kits like this are a true inspiration to the football fashion community and proves how powerful a design can be in showing solidarity between a club and a community.
2. Grenfell Athletic FC’s “Fabric of the Community” shirts
Grenfell Athletic FC is a grassroots football team created in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The fire took the lives of 70 people, and has left many more in the community forever affected by the situation
Last November, the football team released their new kit, using fabric donated by 30 survivors of the fire. Some of the fabric was worn by the survivors at the time of the fire, whilst other pieces are from items of clothing saved from the tower.
The kit is a collaboration between the club and Kit Locker, with the campaign being called “Fabric of the Community”.
Their website explores each donator’s story, and shows how football and fashion can bring communities together, even in the wake of a crisis.
3. Arsenal’s “No More Red” kit
Arsenal’s “No More Red” campaign first launched in 2022, aiming to support Arsenal in the Community’s work against youth violence and knife crime.
The all-white kit replaces the red home kit and isn’t available to purchase, instead being rewarded to young people who are making a positive impact in the community.
Adidas and Arsenal work with different charities, such as The Ben Kinsella Trust, Abianda and Box Up Crime to spread awareness on the effects of youth violence and knife crime and highlighting the importance of creating safe spaces for people who may be at risk.
It truly shows what kind of impact clubs can have on their community and how a kit can raise awareness for the most important issues in their area.
4. Ukraine’s 2020 Euros kit
Ukraine’s 2020 Euros kit sparked anger in Russia as it depicted the outline of Ukraine in a slightly darker thread on the front and centre of their shirt. Why? Well, it included Crimea.
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, and Russian MPs were in uproar after the kit was released. On the back of the shirt reads “Glory to Ukraine!”, with “Glory to the heroes!” being stitched on the inside of the collar.
UEFA approved the design for the Euros, stating the map depicted U.N. recognised borders, but asked them to remove the phrase “Glory to the heroes!” as it was deemed to be political, which UEFA does not allow.
It’s an example of how football and fashion is more than just wearing a nice shirt or releasing a ground-breaking design, it’s a space for politics and sending a message, even if you don’t realise it at first.
5. Sweden Women’s 2019 World Cup shirts
In 2019, Sweden’s women’s team revealed their World Cup kit, inspired by a design from 1994. However, this kit also featured collages of 48 inspirational women in the numbers on the backs of the players shirts.
The women in the collages were chosen by the team and represent influential women from the past who paved the way for them to be able to compete. The number 8 was left blank, with fans being able to send in their own suggestions of people who should be put into the collage for that number.
Photos included all of the women in the team at that time, as well as Tove Lo and other innfluential Swedish women. The kit was also released on March 8th, Internartional Women’s Day.
It is a real statement of thanks and praise to women from across the ages and professions.
