this week sees the start of qualifying games for euro 2012. in their match against bulgaria on friday the english national team
will be wearing a new tailored by umbro kit bearing a pattern designed by peter saville for the first time.

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following text from umbro

'the new fabric print on the shoulder panels of the home shirt is inspired by an increasingly diverse england. made up of
different interpretations of the classic st george’s cross symbol, the pattern is displayed through the repetition of four
different coloured crosses that are evocative of the basting stitches synonymous with bespoke tailoring.'




'the traditional red cross is still present alongside blue and green ones, which are colours present in the official england
team crest. these have been joined by a purple cross, a blend of all the three previous colours to accentuate diversity. 
the conceptual change visually reflects modern england in a noticeable step forward from the current all white kit.'

'commenting on the new fabric design, saville said: 'both the nation and the fans themselves are more diverse than ever
before – whether that’s differences in politics, religion, ethnicity, fashions, music and art.  the landscape of england has
shifted dramatically over the past couple of decades and we are now one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world.
football is a language that everyone can relate to and the new england home kit provides the perfect canvas to reflect
what england looks like today. the reality of modern england is expressed in this pattern as it reclaims the st george’s cross
to positively represent our contemporary society.'

'the shirt takes its inspiration from the more formal classic shirts of england’s footballing past.  umbro has developed a new
longer, more open neckline for the shirt, building on the square neckline that was designed for the away shirt but allowing
additional movement across the chest, keeping its shape especially when a player is running. featuring blue shorts and
white socks with blue trim, the shorts and socks have taken the royal blue colour evident in the three lions crest throughout
england’s history.'












'alongside the white home shirt will be the new home goalkeeper’s shirt in black with a purple trim.
purple piping has been added to the kit after saville was inspired by the cut-line on a formal shirt,
feeling that this highlight made the kit look like a design sketch.'




(top row: joe hart, adam johnson, eric dier, jade bailey, saido berahino, thomas cruise; bottom row: jack wilshere, fern whelan, wayne rooney, connor wickham, theo walcott)

'the shirt was revealed in a ‘new fabric of england’ team line-up featuring some of the country’s most talented younger
generation of players.  sitting alongside senior players, wayne rooney, theo walcott, adam johnson and joe hart are
the likes of jade bailey, who at only 14 years old has represented england at the women’s under-17 level; eric dier,
the 16 year old promising centre-back currently in the youth system at sporting lisbon; and arsenal’s jack wilshere,
who was first called-up to the senior squad for the august friendly against hungary.'





more info on the new kit can be found over on umbro's blog

all images courtesy of umbro