The rage of Mexico’s away kits, the jaguar patterns on Brazil’s shirts, Denmark making a statement and the pale orange of the Netherlands: a look at World Cup shirts

Tracy G. Larimore November 24, 2022 Knitting patterns Comments Off on The rage of Mexico’s away kits, the jaguar patterns on Brazil’s shirts, Denmark making a statement and the pale orange of the Netherlands: a look at World Cup shirts 3 Views

A national team jersey often encapsulates the culture and tradition of a country. The colors are a national symbol, which becomes closely associated with the identity of the team – the yellow of the Canary Islands is instantly identifiable in Brazil, the green of Mexico is always an instant hit and the fiery orange of the Netherlands is often a style statement.

Traditional kits also reappeared at the World Cup in Qatar, but with slight variations.

Whereas England were dressed in their traditional all-white attire against Iran and France donned their usual navy blue kit, with a second star on their crest signifying their triumph four years ago, with some teams changing their usual colours.

The United States, who were supposed to wear a shirt with a rainbow striped chest, had to swap those plans for a more neutral kit while Belgium were told they couldn’t wear shirts matches with “Love” written on their collars.

Netherlands: pale orange

On Monday, the Netherlands took the field against Senegal and it became apparent in an instant that their orange wasn’t orange enough. The Netherlands team has always worn the orange colors that represent its royal family, House Orange-Nassau, often considered its national color. The softer, more moderate peaches that were introduced against Senegal were a notable break from the hundreds of years of tradition.

Denmark: Make a statement

Speaking of subdued colors, Danish team jersey makers Hummel released the Danes’ apparel with a minimalistic approach. The three jerseys, namely home, away and training, have a toned down aesthetic to reduce the visibility of the jersey. This was done in protest against the granting of hosting rights in Qatar.

“At Hummel, we believe that sport should bring people together. And when it’s not, we’re eager to talk and make a statement. This is also why Denmark’s new kits for the next World Cup have been designed as a protest against Qatar and its human rights record,” Hummel said.

“We’ve toned down all the details – including our own Hummel logo and chevrons – because while we love football and the sense of unity it gives us, we don’t want to be visible in a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives,” the brand added.

Brazil: traditional yellow with onca-pintada patterns

When it comes to Brazil, the sight of the iconic canary-colored jersey is all it takes to get football fans into the groove. This year, however, there are subtle clothing changes. The five-time world champions will wear yellow jerseys which will be knitted with onca-pintada patterns. For the uninitiated, the onca-pintada means jaguar which is the national symbol of spirit and courage and reflects the Brazilian team’s style of play, according to kit makers Nike.

Mexico: coloring the rage outdoors

Mexico has always had its most eye-catching clothes. This time, their home green shirt featured the feathered headdress of the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl and also features Miztec art which “invokes the nation’s fighting spirit”, according to kit makers Adidas.

Their away kit, however, became such a rage that manufacturers were forced to stop its sale outside of Mexico to meet domestic demand, according to La Prensa.

South Korea: the devil is in the details

The South Korea or Red Devils home kit has the motif of the Dokkaebi, which are legendary creatures found in Korean mythology, also called Korean goblins, while the away kit is also steeped in their culture with the garment featuring prominently features the Taegeuk symbol, which means “ultimate supreme” and is found on their flag.

Japan: Legends come to life

From one Asian nation to another, Japan’s home shirt is inspired by Yatagarasu, the legendary three-legged crow that features on their federation crest while the away shirt is inspired by origami, the Japanese art of paper folding.

Ecuador and Argentina: The best of the rest

Ecuador’s away shirts feature an Inca-inspired geometric pattern while Argentina’s purple third kit represents gender equality, Adidas said. Argentina’s blue and white stripes have always been a hit, and it’s no different this time around as well.

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