Emporio Armani unveils off-field uniforms for Italian football team – WWD
EURO STYLE: As part of his company’s four-year deal with the Italian Football Federation, Giorgio Armani on Thursday unveiled his last official off-field uniforms for the country’s football team.
Participating in the UEFA Euro 2020 European Football Championship – which was postponed last year due to the pandemic and runs until July 11 – the team are set to play their first game on June 11 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome against Turkey.
Athletes and the management of the football team will wear Emporio Armani suits including a light blue and white mandarin collar blazer crafted in crumpled seersucker cotton paired with casual black pants.
The luxury brand said the uniforms were inspired by the style and elegance of Enzo Bearzot, a football player and coach who helped the Italian team win the World Cup in 1982.
“I am proud to dress our national team in this period of general restart, and for such an important championship. I worked on an idea of spontaneous, sporty and authentic elegance. I created a light but dignified costume, as dignified and proud as our minds should be right now, ”said Armani.
Members of the Italian football team wearing Emporio Armani uniforms.
Courtesy of Giorgio Armani
“I would like to thank Mr. Armani because he was able to design a costume that combines and highlights three fundamental characteristics of this young, elegant and determined national team. His style goes perfectly with the direction given to the Azzurri by coach [Roberto] Mancini, ”said Gabriele Gravina, President of the Italian Football Federation.
In line with the four-year agreement with the soccer federation, Italy’s national under-21 and women’s football teams also regularly wear Emporio Armani off-field uniforms. This partnership highlights Armani’s close relationship with the world of sport.
In addition to controlling the Olimpia Milano basketball team, Armani has over the years selected a wide range of athletes to promote the communication of its brands. The roster includes footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kaká, Luís Figo, Fabio Cannavaro and Andriy Shevchenko, tennis star Rafael Nadal, as well as swimmers Federica Pellegrini and Filippo Magnini.
Previously, the company Armani created the uniforms of the Italian national football team for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and for the 1994 World Cup. In addition, the fashion house designed the official uniforms of the football teams of Newcastle United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
