World Cup Winning Shirts #3
France 2014: Stars in stripes
T he only ‘change’ jersey to feature in this compilation comes courtesy of France 2014. Somewhat of a rarity in the sport the shirt featured horizontal stripes, which were based on the ‘Marinière’, a classic motif originally seen on 19th century sailors.
Nike, the manufacturer, first introduced a striped design in 2011 as part of ‘Vive Le Football Libre’, a campaign that celebrated French culture and identity. Indeed, there are few things as quintessentially Gallic as the ‘Breton’ stripe!
Typically comprised of twenty-one lines (for each of Napoleon’s victories), Breton was appropriated by fashion in the 20th century — possibly by Coco Chanel — and has been worn by everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Jean-Paul Gaultier.
For the 2014 strip a subtle yet striking grey was used, instead of traditional navy hoops. The ‘Henley’ style collar struck a reminiscent tone, echoed by a crest that was inspired by the cockerel seen at 1958's tournament. The overall aesthetic is at once unmistakably nostalgic whilst playfully tongue-in-cheek.
The retrospective theme featured throughout the kit: the ‘first’ shirt (above, left) was given a denim effect, a nod to the fabric founded in Nimes, and the shorts had selvedge-style taping — a premium denim finishing technique.
Another fascinating aspect is the garment’s composition. In-line with Nike’s commitment to lowering the environmental impact of its inventory this was the first national team kit to be made from recycled plastic bottles.
The scarcity of game time that it saw is as much of a disappointment as the relatively early exit of a very talented French squad. Having topped Group E, France would go on to best Nigeria 2–0 in the round of 16, although the victory was cloaked in conspiracies of bias against the African nation. Sadly ‘Les Bleus’ surrendered meekly 1–0 to Germany in the quarter finals. Rose-tinted glasses will recall a masterclass from German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and look favourably on a loss to the eventual winners. Either way, this remains a classic — that will see a renaissance of sorts in Russia this year. Allez Breton!
