#SEASON06 Launch Party
#SEASON06 Launch Party
3 April 2019
Community is…….bringing people together. The football and fashion community showed up to help us launch SEASON’s sixth issue at Protein Studios in east London. The latest issue’s theme came to life as the space was transformed into a room of creativity and celebration.
The rooms were adorned with images and illustrations from the new issue and England’s new unique Women’s World Cup kits on mannequins thanks to Nike London. The pristine and slick flood-white home shirt was on display alongside the purple training sweatshirt and floral red away kit.
SAGE Flowers, a creative florist in Peckham headed by Iona and Romy, took inspiration from the Lioness’ away jersey to run a workshop where guests created their own jam jar arrangements based on the rose, poppy and primrose pattern.
Music collective Born n Bread energised everyone with their must-dance mix of Afrobeats, RnB and hip-hop. Their still subtle soundtrack blended perfectly with the soft neon lighting that glowed throughout the studios.
It was a night to celebrate women in football as the diverse all-female panel, chaired by our founder and Editor-in-Chief Felicia Pennant, picked up talking points from SEASON 06 to discuss and debate community and looked forward to this summer’s Women’s World Cup.
Rocky Hehakaija, who flew in from Amsterdam and shot a photo diary on her Favela Street project for the new issue, stole the show and took the mic to share stories about the prejudice and barriers she faced playing football in the Netherlands.
She told the crowd how ‘football wasn’t always very nice’ to her but the street football world accepted her and helped her rediscover her love for the game. Rocky’s love was so great that she admitted she even used to sleep with a football.
Panellist Cassie Looker, Football Apparel Lead at Nike Women and the genius behind England’s new kit, described the technology and research behind Nike’s women’s-specific kits for the World Cup.
It got pretty technical as Cassie spoke of 3D body scanning and the meticulous assessment of women’s footballers’ body shape and physicality.
It was refreshing to finally hear the female football form prioritised and celebrated with a kit that has been specifically designed with it in mind.
Fellow panellist Viv Jeffers, from East London Ladies FC, was truthful and honest about the realities of grassroots football and race but also the fulfilment the game it provides. She built her community with her best friend Pav on friendships and creating opportunities, East London Ladies now has a junior programme and development team.
In contrast, Natasha Chahal, founder of online community Premier Lasses, has carved her very own digital space where women can enjoy football but also have some jokes. She reminisced about the peak of Sky’s Soccer AM in the mid-2000s and the often pretty risqué banter it had. She longed for a space where women could also have fun and enjoy football with a sense of humour so she made it.
Romance FC have been at the forefront of the creative women’s football movement in London since 2012 (originally as Boiler Room Ladies FC). Graphic designer and team member Aimee Capstick, also on the panel, designed the memorable Romance FC shirt in collaboration with Nike London and spoke about her football community. That pinky-purple shirt is iconic, and it epitomises what is so exciting about women in football at this moment — creativity, excitement and opportunity.
The main room’s positivity was infectious. Individuals from seemingly very different worlds- grassroots football, fashion, sport and lifestyle- came together to salute SEASON and the communities that bind us together: community. This energy lived long into the night as people connected, sipped drinks, snacked on burgers and more, and kept on dancing. There were SEASON totes containing issue 06 and Nike sports bras to take away.
We’d like to thank everyone for coming out. We really appreciate your love and support for everything we do. To all the amazing people who featured in, created and contributed to issue 06 including our incredible cover star Leah Williamson- thank you all for being a part of this and trusting us to share your stories and showcase your talent. Finally a massive thank you to Nike London and Freuds- particularly Adam, Jess and Paul for making this memorable night happen. Enjoy issue 06!
Words Flo Lloyd-Hughes
Photography Lou Jasmine
