Premier League football shirts functional sportswear or fashion accessory?

Bukta was the first manufacturer of sportswear, and in 1920 the company that was later to become Umbro was established and began manufacturing football kits. It wasn't until the 1980s that Adidas entered the market and Nike kits weren't introduced until as recently as 1993. Since the 1990s football as a sport has been massively commercialised with the introduction of the Premier League, TV rights deals, huge sponsorship deals and ever increasing transfer fees. Historically football shirts have been available for fans to buy since advances in manufacturing during the 60s and 70s, buying and wearing the kit of your favourite team is now more popular than ever.

Premier League football shirts along with kits from clubs around the globe are manufactured using a great deal of technology in comparison to the originally heavy cotton kits from the olden times. Nike use recycled plastic bottles to make polyester which in turn produces the full kits, add to this specialised mesh panels for ventilation and specific fabric weaves to produce lightweight, tough material the kits of today are scientifically designed, Nike call their technological material Dri-fit. Rivals Adidas have produced their own technologically advanced fabric called Clima-cool that they use in the production of sportswear. Other manufacturers including Puma also use similar materials. These engineering properties of sports kits are intrinsically valuable to the professionals who wear them on the pitch every week however, as consumers do we appreciate this technology or are we looking for a fashionable clothing item?

During the mid nineties Sporty Spice, of the Spice Girls, was seen wearing a tight fitting Liverpool shirt, this kick started a trend that saw many young girls wanting to wear a football shirt to be just like their favourite pop idol. This trend has continued, there are peaks and troughs with England shirt sales spiking dramatically whenever there is a European or World Cup competition, and it is certainly not just die hard fans buying the kits. Â Many supporters are outraged if their favourite teams newly released shirts are considered not to look nice, for example their has been recent debate regarding the new Liverpool Away Shirt produced by Warrior, this has recently been named the worst kit in football history by some polls. Cardiff City fans have loudly criticised their teams new two-tone red home kit, it will be worn for the clubs first ever Premier League season despite the fans outrage and criticism. Â After Everton fans produced an angry outburst regarding a new design of Crest the club have backtracked and will be keeping the old crest for the time being while they consult upon a new design that will hopefully be better received.

Since the introduction of names and numbers being printed onto Premier League Football Shirts in 1993 consumers have enjoyed purchasing kits with the name and number of their favourite player. Â Recently Robin Van Persie the popular Manchester United player was named as being the most bought personalised kit making up 25.4% of total sales. This is a staggering percentage and perhaps reflects popular culture and fashion as much as this players footballing skill and expertise.

Do you think football kits are purchased for their advanced technology, as a fashion item, or to show team support?

Tracey writes blogs on behalf of Soccer Box.

Order your Premier League Football Shirts from Soccerbox today, we can even personalise it with your favourite players name and number.