The kit of a club is one of the most important aspects of its existence. It is not only the colour that helps viewers or teammates identify them, it is also the identity of the club itself. This is what adds to the reason fans eagerly wait for the leaked images of their side’s kits.
Lately, the kit manufacturers have used the kit as the canvas to create not just shirts and shorts, but works of art that represent the values of the club, paying homage to the things that connect the club with the fans.
While Adidas’ new home kit for Arsenal raised a few eyebrows in its tribute to Ian Wright and David Rocastle, this new Everton home kit concept is making waves amongst the fans for the unconventional nature of its inspiration.
According to a post on social media, the ‘muse’ behind the kit are the toilets of the main stand of their home ground, Goodison Park.
The kit possesses ever-present blue and white. The collar, shorts, and socks will have the same artwork that exists on the tiles in the toilet. While fans do poke fun at the shirt, the inspiration and intention are evident.
The 131-year-old stadium has always been the home of the Toffees and is one of the oldest in the country. However, after this season, it will bid farewell to its tenants as Everton plans on moving to its new 52,888-seater stadium next season.
Despite decades of protest against such an action, the stadium will be reinvented into a shopping centre and housing area. So it was important that the club pays its tribute to the stadium that has seen it win nine championships. Even this season, the stadium has experienced the grit of Everton as it managed to confirm its PL status despite getting an eight-point penalty by the FA.
Castore, Everton’s new kit manufacturer, is going to go up against the big boys of the industry and needs to do something extraordinary to gain some momentum. Since the break up of their ties with Newcastle United last year, they had no Premier League client till they struck the deal with Everton. The colour scheme is kept original, the design language is kept clean and the style is as Everton as it gets.
However, the fans are broken on how to judge the kit. While some feel that the tiles are going to be a great synecdoche for the stadium, some feel that this could be done in a better taste. The fact that the great arena is being reduced to just the pattern of tiles in the toilet is baffling for some.
However, fans do like the crest in the centre of the shirt, as it looks both different and fresh.