The Anthem Jacket
The jacket was designed with a specific purpose in mind, to put uniformity, smartness and pride into the England line up during the playing of the National Anthem.
The Design Process started with a favourite 1970's Arsenal Wembley track suit jacket (from my comprehensive collection!). The challenge was then to incorporate a smarter tailored look. The jacket began in white sweatshirt material with lapels and buttons while retaining the ribbed cuff. A bit of a tennis blazer hybrid so out went the buttons and in came the zip. The sleeves themselves are cut with darts to give the sleeve a bespoke tailored shape while retaining the ribbed cuff for casual comfort. Then came seams. The seams at the front are set in with an airtex gusset and open sleeve head and the sleeve seams at the back are raglan. Next - the collar - still tailored but turned in from peak lapel to a stand up collar. To keep the clean bespoke look the pockets are set into the front seams with invisible zips.
Each England player was measured up for their own individual bespoke, Anthem Jacket.
There were many adjustments of a millimetre here and a millimetre there as the process went from blouson tracksuit top to tailored blazer to a bespoke retrolutionary look. Finally embroidered with three lions, a star and the Umbro logo and eventually the Anthem Jacket was finished and ready to wear with pride.
The jacket was designed with a specific purpose in mind, to put uniformity, smartness and pride into the England line up during the playing of the National Anthem.
The Design Process started with a favourite 1970's Arsenal Wembley track suit jacket (from my comprehensive collection!). The challenge was then to incorporate a smarter tailored look. The jacket began in white sweatshirt material with lapels and buttons while retaining the ribbed cuff. A bit of a tennis blazer hybrid so out went the buttons and in came the zip. The sleeves themselves are cut with darts to give the sleeve a bespoke tailored shape while retaining the ribbed cuff for casual comfort. Then came seams. The seams at the front are set in with an airtex gusset and open sleeve head and the sleeve seams at the back are raglan. Next - the collar - still tailored but turned in from peak lapel to a stand up collar. To keep the clean bespoke look the pockets are set into the front seams with invisible zips.
Each England player was measured up for their own individual bespoke, Anthem Jacket.
There were many adjustments of a millimetre here and a millimetre there as the process went from blouson tracksuit top to tailored blazer to a bespoke retrolutionary look. Finally embroidered with three lions, a star and the Umbro logo and eventually the Anthem Jacket was finished and ready to wear with pride.
