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Umbro commits to England until 2018

07 Sep '10

5 min read

Inspired by an increasingly diverse England, iconic graphic designer Peter Saville has created a pattern on the new England home shirt that is a reflection of his vision of modern England. Made up of different interpretations of the classic St George's cross symbol, the pattern is displayed through the repetition of four different coloured crosses.

The traditional red cross is still present alongside blue and green ones, which are colours present in the official England team crest. These have been joined by a purple cross, a blend of all the three previous colours to accentuate diversity.

“Both the nation and the fans themselves are more diverse than ever before – whether that's differences in politics, religion, ethnicity, fashions, music and art,” said Saville. “The landscape of England has shifted dramatically over the past couple of decades and we are now one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world.

“Football is a language that everyone can relate to and the new England home kit provided the perfect canvas to reflect what England looks like today. The reality of modern England is expressed in this pattern as it reclaims the St George's cross to positively represent our contemporary society.”

The shirt was revealed in a 'new fabric of England' team line-up featuring some of the country's most talented younger generation of players. Sitting alongside senior players Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson and Joe Hart, are the likes of Jade Bailey, who at only 14 years old has represented England Women's at U17 level; Eric Dier, the promising 16-year-old defender currently in the youth system at Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, who was first called up to the senior squad for the August friendly against Hungary.

Trevor Cairns, Chief Marketing Officer for Umbro, added: “The fact that we have a new fabric for the shirt gave us an opportunity to celebrate the new fabric of England through the next generation of players.”

Alongside the white home shirt will be the new home goalkeeper's shirt in black with a purple trim. Purple piping has been added to the kit after Saville was inspired by the cut-line on a formal shirt, feeling that this highlight made the kit look like a design sketch.

“The new England home kit is undoubtedly the best fitting England kit yet,” said England keeper Joe Hart. “I love the black and the subtle nature of the pattern blended into the shirt.”

Umbro, Ltd., a subsidiary of NIKE, Inc., is the original Manchester based football brand that invented sportswear and sports tailoring.

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