With the recent release of the latest Y-3 x Real Madrid collection, we take a look at how the successful collaboration has led the way in the footy-fashion space.
Recently unveiling the latest chapter in a decade-long partnership, Real Madrid’s new Y-3 collection is the most ambitious yet. A fourth kit, two goalkeeper shirts, pre-match gear, and a selection of fanwear items including a t-shirt, scarf, and cross body bag adds to the travel collection that was already released earlier in March, and makes Los Blancos perhaps the most stylish club in all of football. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a Y-3 edition of the Predator, which isn’t exclusive to the club, but nevertheless adds to the collection’s aura.
High fashion making its way into the football world isn’t a novel concept, as we’ve seen Off-White and AC Milan team up for some pre-match wear as well as PSG’s massive consortium of haute couture collaborations. However, Real Madrid has been doing this now for 10 years, with the iconic Yohji Yamamoto-designed third kit debuting in the 2014-15 season.
That kit, with its dragon graphic design and grandad collar, was equal parts elegant and rebellious and looked as good on the pitch as it did off of it. It was one of the most notable fashion-footy crossovers of its time, and arguably kicked off the era that we have today, in which no one would really bat an eye at a collaboration like this.
Before PALACE, Air Jordan, and Pharrell Williams got into the football kit game, there was Yamamoto and adidas leading the way.
The brand and designer originally joined forces in 2002 to form Y-3, and in the 22 years since have created some of the most innovative sneakers and apparel in the fashion world. Yamamoto’s brash takes on outerwear and performance pieces along with iconic sneaker silhouettes like the Qasa have defined the successful collaboration, which has spread to the football pitch.
In 2022, Y-3 and Real Madrid reunited for a more simple yet expansive collection, which included a fourth kit, goalkeeper kit, and warm-up tracksuit. Real Madrid made sure to extend the line to both its men’s and women’s teams, who wore the shirt in UEFA Champions League action.
Now, with the most recent on-pitch and travel collections, Y-3 and Real Madrid have an entire wardrobe of high fashion garb that would make anyone jealous. You’d have to think that other teams would follow suit and either expand their already existing fashion collaborations or jump on the already fast-moving train.
adidas has already done a Stella McCartney-designed Arsenal collection, and we could see that expand to a full on- and off-pitch teamwear line that has the Arsenal women dripped out from the plane to the touchline. The Three Stripes also has Jerry Lorenzo on its payroll, and although he’s more involved in the basketball space, his style would fit right in with the beautiful game.
Looking elsewhere besides adidas, Nike has never been shy to collaborate with designers ranging from Kim Jones to Jun Takahashi, and although we haven’t seen the brand do anything like adidas has in the world of football, the brand is due. It would instantly inject Nike — which hasn’t exactly been on the best run of late — with some much needed momentum.
AC Milan and Off-White could extend their off-pitch collaboration to the field, and staying in Italy, there is also plenty of room for Napoli and Armani to play around with a few ideas too.
Fashion brands and football clubs teaming up to create a cohesive line of performance and casual wear for both on and off the pitch could be the future of football. It would harken back to the days of the NASL, where Ralph Lauren designed the kits for the New York Cosmos. And if that future does become a reality, we can look to Y-3 and Real Madrid as the original pioneers.
