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Are Scottish Football Strips Going Through A Renaissance

Date: 22nd July 2019

Copyright – Stranraer FC  

Growing up in the nineties I think I was pretty lucky when it comes to collecting football strips. In those days kits in Scotland were impressive. 

Rangers had original tops made by Adidas and Nike, Celtic had the first luminous bumblebee away top in 1997, Aberdeen had some very decent Umbro strips and Clydebank went all flamboyant with local band made good Wet Wet Wet becoming the club’s kit sponsors.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Greenock Morton’s tartan shortbread tin tops but they were still original and showed a willingness to be different from anyone else. 

Then for a long time we got copy and paste jobs or strips made by fly by night merchants that weren’t interested in the clubs or their supporters. It was all about making a quick buck.  

That meant that kits weren’t really up to much and what made that even worse was that the price continued to increase. 

Yet in recent seasons and, in particular, this summer I’ve noticed things have started to improve once again when it comes to game day fashion. 

I’ve always been a fan of Hummel kits, ever since the nineties when they would produce top notch shirts for the Danish national team. They’ve been paired up with Rangers since last summer and once again they have produced some nice tops this season. 

I always joke that being the home strip designer for the Celtic home kit is the easiest job in the world. Just make sure it’s green and white with Hoops. New Balance have stuck to that principle yet again and it particularly looks good in long sleeves.

The Hearts and Umbro collaboration has been bang on trend too. The third kit was released this past week and it looks super. It’s all about being sleek, basic and fashionable. It looks like a top you’d by happy to go out and have a good night! 

The Hibs away strip is a vibrant purple with some green. Personally I think away tops should be vibrant, playful and standout. I also love that this season Hibs will have their own Community Foundation emblazoned on the front of their top. 

It’s not just the Premiership teams that have been hitting it out the park when it comes to their new kits this term. 

I really like the Joma – Stranraer home top (Picture Above). When I see it I think of waves and obviously ferries which kind of sums the town up. I think it’s great that a kit can be so linked with the local community and it’s surroundings. 

Another top I’m liking is the Cowdenbeath home top. It’s inspired by the Blue Brazil’s 1969-70 strip that that the team wore as they clinched promotion to the top flight that season. 

Then there’s the Partick Thistle away kit with the rainbow trim. As well as being a classy strip, it also supports a big statement of equality and everyone being welcome at Firhill. 

I’m sure there’s been plenty of nice tops that I’ve not mentioned and that just proves that we are in a golden era of football kits. 

That’s why I am so happy that Scottish sides are getting good kits. They can help send out good messages and bridge any gaps between the club and the community. 

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