10 Football Creatives We Can’t Take Our Eyes Off

Chances are, with our screen time understandably increasing to new heights as social distancing continues, that you’ve probably spotted a football creative or two that you really like scrolling through social media. Designers, photographers, illustrators, filmmakers, and more are putting their own spin on football culture, pushing boundaries, broadening minds, boldly crossing over with fashion, music, photography, and art as well. Below, our Fashion Director Georgina Hunt shares 10 of her favourites, an incredibly talented bunch, in the hope that you’ll finish reading this as inspired as she is.

THE FOOTBALL SHIRT REWORKER – GOLDEN CABANE

Independent brand and football shirt rework studio Golden Cabane produces limited edition collections of used football kits, spiced up with bold and colourful graphic design applications. Think a Netherlands or Arsenal kit emblazoned with a statement Nike swoosh or five, a Lazio jersey with two club badges- the second one enlarged in bold fuschia, or Barcelona's stripes punctuated with Kappa’s ‘omini’ logo.

A favourite of mine, one to drool over if you haven’t done so already, is their rework of the South Korean 2004/2006 shirt. They are due to release a new collection once we come out of isolation so keep them on your wishlist.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER - EMILE-SAMORY FOFANA

Emile-Samory Fofana has been visiting his grandmother in Mali from a young age and three years ago, the young Frenchman started to notice more and more football shirts on the streets of Bamako. This inspired Fofana’s series ‘Champions League Koulikoro’ and the beautifully framed football photographs are among the most powerful I’ve seen. Sharing stories of people’s relationships with football, the Frenchman’s work shows a side to the Champions League that we haven’t really seen before.

‘The project aims to show this “jerseyfication” in order to tell how football changed the urban landscape of Africa, while Africa changed the landscape of European football. My photographs tell stories about European football culture through the jerseys of the people who wear them, here, in West Africa,” Fofana told us.

THE STYLIST - COCO MELL

Coco Mell is an up-and-coming stylist and sneaker-head, coming in strong to the creative football scene with her expressive use of colour, sportswear and streetwear silhouettes, and cosy energetic looks.

Mell’s client list, which includes Converse, Notion magazine, and Nike, is growing her and bright spirit is contagious and evident in her work: she’s styled Lioness (and our issue 06 cover star) Leah Williamson for ASOS, and adidas’ 2020 European Champions kit lookbook and musician Lava La Rue for Soccerbible. Additionally, you may have also seen her in front of the camera when she modelled the USA Women’s World Cup shirt last year.

THE VISUAL ARTISTS - ELLEN + STELLA

Wonderkid FC player and image-maker Ellen (a past SEASON panellist) and Stella, a director and photographer, have combined their cultural and creative visions with their project Ellen + Stella. The power couple have produced some of my favourite campaigns in recent times – the adidas Originals relaunch of the Ozweego trainer to name one and beautiful portraits of poet and writer Kai Isaiah Jamal.

Multiple framing and mixing moving and still imagery make their work shine, and in their first football project together, they directed and produced a short documentary for Goals4Girls. The girls are playing and training in their London training ground, and the film is celebrating them and introducing a grassroots team of young players to the world via a compelling portrait of their values and messages. You can also find Stella’s beautiful films of her ‘muse’ Ellen” in their home during isolation.

THE DESIGNER - ANNA ISONIEMI

Finnish fashion designer Anna Isoniemi wowed with her sequin printing technique and psychedelic final collection when she graduated from Aalto University. So much so that Isoniemi has collaborated with Adidas Originals on a football-focused SS20 collection. The first drop references Manchester United’s 1992 goalkeeper jersey, reworking the print and squad number with a sea of sequins. The rest of the collection involves a blue sequined feminine cut tracksuit inspired by a vintage Adidas rave trackie, a full length football shirt dress, four city-themed striped jerseys, and a glorious sequinned shopper destined to make your supermarket shops that bit more exciting!

The second drop sees Isoniemi transform the classic football scarf using ladylike, tailored silhouettes and a glitter lurex fabrication. We can only assume this has been delayed by the pandemic, as it was due to drop in March, so we hope to see this new collection in the flesh asap.

THE BRAND - LACK OF GUIDANCE

Straight out of Amsterdam, Lack of Guidance is a football fashion brand that delivers minimal graphic t-shirts that tap into the zeitgeist of their diverse references. Their take on the classic France 98 World Cup logo is unforgettable and the brand has been a growing obsession of mine for a while now.

Like many football creatives, Lack of Guidance has postponed their Euro 2020 plans and collection, but you can still shop their timeless past pieces. Like their recent tee in homage to Netherlands and Suriname player Humphrey Mijnals, and the Leo Suit, a clean and sharp polly-wool navy two piece. The lads continue to update their exquisite blog of stylish and rare archive football imagery on their website – check it out.

THE ARTIST - CORBIN SHAW

Sheffield United fan and artist Corbin Shaw makes powerful statements with handmade, cotton flag art pieces, with football and club subcultures running themes. His work ‘Soften Up Hard Lad’ (a 87 cm x 145 cm flag) questions traditional views of masculinity and how it has been culturally formed over the years. A topic that is still very prevalent within football, which we all know is a male-dominated space.

Discover the rest of Shaw’s thought-provoking work over on his website. You’ll find the photography series ‘Flags’ where he has documented English fans' love for their team through their decorative shows of the national flag.

THE ILLUSTRATOR - ISOBEL MEHTA

Isobel Mehta has been illustrating her love for football, more specifically Spurs, in her latest works. From the many faces and emotions of Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp for ‘The Little Red Book of Klopp’ by Giles Elliot, to a nameless female Spurs fan at home surrounded by (and wearing) football merch, her work reminds me of traditional Japanese animation.

Mehta‘s use of colour and line is strong and I love the nods to Japanese culture and football throughout her work. The creative also worked with SEASON on the issue 07 set of stickers based on contributors favourite players and managers, illustrating Megan Rapinoe, Kaká and John Barnes and more.

THE FAN COLLECTIVE AND ARCHIVE INSTAGRAM - EIGHTEEN86 LONDON

You don’t need to be an Arsenal fan to enjoy this dedicated collection of football fandom. Eighteen86 is a fanzine, rare vintage store and t-shirt brand dedicated to the North London club. Their Instagram hosts an impressive collection of rare images, objects, photography and clothing celebrating the team, including Ian Wright in some serious Arsenal 80’s loungewear, and a one-off bomber jacket customised with a collection of 60s/70s rare badges.

They are currently raising funds for the NHS through a poster sale of Chris Read’s ongoing ‘Arsenal Shirt Project’. The A0 posters are £25 and all proceeds go to NHS charities or directly to Hackney Food Bank.

THE MUSICIAN - SASHA KEABLE

Sasha Keable is making waves with her soulful sound, and has recently started sharing her love of Chelsea FC and Columbia on social media. The South Londoner and Columbian singer/songwriter appeared on Disclosure’s album ‘Settle’ back in 2013, and was in and out of The Brit School, but now she’s back with the stunning EP ‘MAN’.

I love Keable’s voice and heartbreaking lyrics, so I was super excited to see the football-themed birthday party she hosted this year, which Maya Jama and Radio 1 DJ Emerald attended. The musician wore a bespoke halter dress made from Colombia, Chelsea and England kit. Could a Nike football campaign be on the cards next? The “Under your Skin” video, which Keable also co-directed, is worth a watch. One for the lovers.

Words: Georgina Hunt