The Arsenal 2019/20 away jersey was arguably the most hyped replica drop of the new season. A retro design of pure footballing nostalgia that has pushed the boundaries of modern shirt aesthetics. Taking things to the next level, adidas have reimagined it as part of this year's Carnival celebrations.
The Notting Hill Carnival celebrations are always a hotbed of creativity in London, and this year adidas & Arsenal have got in on the action by opening up their partnership for interpretation by leading football culture collective Art of Football. The Art of Football team were given an open source brief to reimagine the 2019/20 Arsenal away jersey, and design an outfit that's fit for Carnival; the results are typically wild.
By reworking the fabric with Carnival style as their inspiration the team have created a set of apparel and accessories including trousers, an open shirt and bucket hat. The creations have drawn inspiration from the 90’s era, to reflect the heritage of the iconic ‘Bruised Banana’ aesthetic, as well as Carnival itself with each piece reflecting football shirt culture crossing over with streetwear. The unique designs have been styled alongside the latest adidas originals Ozweego shoe to deliver a Carnival outfit to remember.
The number 8 on the back refers to the number Ian Wright wore hence the iconic trefoil logo on the lettering which is the same typeface that was on the bruised banana shirt. To add a little twist to all the yellow the inside of the bucket hat features a colourful pattern to capture and complement the vibrancy of Carnival. And yeah, Hector Bellerin wishes PUMA did this last year...
Only a very limited number of each piece has been made, meaning the outfits won't be retailing. Soz to end on a negative note... keep an eye out for them knocking around carnival this weekend, though.
