The Champions League is trying to capitalize on the emerging bridge between fashion and football by releasing a bespoke line in collaboration with Adidas.
The exclusive Champions League 2024 fashion pieces are inspired by the final's ball, “UCL Pro Ball London.” The ball displays the Premier League's lion figurehead and famously pits two jungle kings against each other as a hallmark of the spirited UCL competition.
Interestingly, designer Sophie Hird upcycled the ball's design and materials into the UCL fashion pieces themselves. The black leather jacket, for instance, places the orange and yellow teeth-baring lions on each side of the jacket's centerpiece. Three thick Adidas white stripes bear over the shoulders, with the iconic sportswear brand spelled out in caps across the front.
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde debuted the collection yesterday upon his game entrance at the Estadi Olímpic. The Catalan giants defeated Napoli 4-2 on aggregate to move on to the quarter-finals.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, who also consulted Adidas and UCL on the collection, will also signal his personalized jacket version before entering the locker room of tonight's clash against Inter Milan. His version flashes his surname on the right sleeve.
Said the Durham, now London-based designer, Herd: “In the design process I became heavily influenced by a sport called Speedway. Similar to Motocross, riders would wear these incredibly loud leather two pieces with stripes and stars across them. After seeing these and the adidas UCL Pro Ball London, I wanted to bring these two worlds together.”
As Kounde teased, the exclusive collection also includes a kit and boot bag, which further incorporates the UCL Pro Ball London elements. The Champions League final will be held at London's prestigious Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024.
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