Fashion

Style and substance

What began as a flirtation with fashion among the trendiest players has morphed into a strategy to build profiles off the pitch. The days of simply putting their names to a pair of trainers are well and truly over, as footballers embrace style to pursue a variety of personal and philanthropic goals

WORDS Amber Graafland
Issue 06

Marcus Rashford

Inspiration

When Marcus Rashford was asked to be the face of British luxury brand Burberry in 2020, he wasn’t just chosen for his boyish good looks. The Manchester United forward had already earned praise for using his celebrity to campaign for social change, and that activism meshed perfectly with the brand’s desire to give back by donating to the youth projects he supported.

The letter that Rashford wrote to his ten-year-old self as part of the launch touched many. Indeed, ‘joining forces for good’ was not only a match made in sartorial heaven, it was the perfect platform for him to take his message to a wider audience. Simply collaborating on a range of tracksuits was never going to be enough. Not for a player whose ambition to drive societal progress has come to define him – proving once again that collaborations built on shared interests and values always enjoy the most success.

Megan Rapinoe

Trailblazer

When it comes to style, Megan Rapinoe is pretty badass. The OL Reign and USA stalwart doesn’t follow trends or prescribe to any fashion formula. Her look is unique. Whatever it is, she’s got it in spades. But the real key to the former Olympique Lyonnais player’s cool is what she stands for. Both athlete and activist, she sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and also campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, while her Instagram feed avidly supports Black Lives Matter.

No surprise then that the fashion world has been queuing to sign her up. And, with male athletes having dominated past campaigns, the midfielder lauded the benefits of that wider cultural reach when she teamed up with Spanish luxury house Loewe last year. “Fashion is a really good indication and case study for the progression of women’s sports,” she said.

Marcus Rashford

Inspiration

When Marcus Rashford was asked to be the face of British luxury brand Burberry in 2020, he wasn’t just chosen for his boyish good looks. The Manchester United forward had already earned praise for using his celebrity to campaign for social change, and that activism meshed perfectly with the brand’s desire to give back by donating to the youth projects he supported.

The letter that Rashford wrote to his ten-year-old self as part of the launch touched many. Indeed, ‘joining forces for good’ was not only a match made in sartorial heaven, it was the perfect platform for him to take his message to a wider audience. Simply collaborating on a range of tracksuits was never going to be enough. Not for a player whose ambition to drive societal progress has come to define him – proving once again that collaborations built on shared interests and values always enjoy the most success.

Megan Rapinoe

Trailblazer

When it comes to style, Megan Rapinoe is pretty badass. The OL Reign and USA stalwart doesn’t follow trends or prescribe to any fashion formula. Her look is unique. Whatever it is, she’s got it in spades. But the real key to the former Olympique Lyonnais player’s cool is what she stands for. Both athlete and activist, she sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and also campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, while her Instagram feed avidly supports Black Lives Matter.

No surprise then that the fashion world has been queuing to sign her up. And, with male athletes having dominated past campaigns, the midfielder lauded the benefits of that wider cultural reach when she teamed up with Spanish luxury house Loewe last year. “Fashion is a really good indication and case study for the progression of women’s sports,” she said.

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

Shanice Van de Sanden

Free spirit

The flying Wolfsburg and Netherlands winger is as noted for her vibrant look as she is for her sporting talent. But while there are plenty of labels she admires, Shanice van de Sanden won’t just settle for endorsing other people. So much so that starting her own fashion company isn’t a case of if but when.

As she says herself, “I want my own brand. I want my own jewellery. I want a lot of things and I’m always thinking about stuff like that but, you know, I want the sick things. That’s why I’m waiting a little bit. There’s obviously a lot of brands that are very different, but I definitely want one that just says to me, ‘This is sick.’”

She’s actively involved with UEFA’s #WePlayStrong campaign to attract more girls to the prospect of playing football – and she was an obvious choice. “I believe that being me, being strong and being who I am will be the key to my success.” Watch this space.

Tiémoué Bakayoko

Entrepreneur

For some footballers, fashion has presented lucrative opportunities. Being a style ambassador can mean big money. But Bakayoko took things a step further after being approached by French brand Études. Not content with appearing as the face of the company, he soon ended up a shareholder, ambassador and collaborator all rolled into one, cementing his future outside the game.

“I’ve always loved fashion and my casual yet elegant style reflects that,” says the Chelsea midfielder, currently on loan at Napoli. “By becoming a shareholder I hope to inspire athletes and fashion houses to open up to new worlds and profiles. Difference is an asset.”

Now an investor and creative force, Bakayoko has forged a partnership that suits both parties. And, of course, the label gets to tap into Bakayoko’s loyal legion of social media followers. Everyone’s a winner.

Marcus Rashford

Inspiration

When Marcus Rashford was asked to be the face of British luxury brand Burberry in 2020, he wasn’t just chosen for his boyish good looks. The Manchester United forward had already earned praise for using his celebrity to campaign for social change, and that activism meshed perfectly with the brand’s desire to give back by donating to the youth projects he supported.

The letter that Rashford wrote to his ten-year-old self as part of the launch touched many. Indeed, ‘joining forces for good’ was not only a match made in sartorial heaven, it was the perfect platform for him to take his message to a wider audience. Simply collaborating on a range of tracksuits was never going to be enough. Not for a player whose ambition to drive societal progress has come to define him – proving once again that collaborations built on shared interests and values always enjoy the most success.

Megan Rapinoe

Trailblazer

When it comes to style, Megan Rapinoe is pretty badass. The OL Reign and USA stalwart doesn’t follow trends or prescribe to any fashion formula. Her look is unique. Whatever it is, she’s got it in spades. But the real key to the former Olympique Lyonnais player’s cool is what she stands for. Both athlete and activist, she sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and also campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, while her Instagram feed avidly supports Black Lives Matter.

No surprise then that the fashion world has been queuing to sign her up. And, with male athletes having dominated past campaigns, the midfielder lauded the benefits of that wider cultural reach when she teamed up with Spanish luxury house Loewe last year. “Fashion is a really good indication and case study for the progression of women’s sports,” she said.

Fashion

Style and substance

What began as a flirtation with fashion among the trendiest players has morphed into a strategy to build profiles off the pitch. The days of simply putting their names to a pair of trainers are well and truly over, as footballers embrace style to pursue a variety of personal and philanthropic goals

WORDS Amber Graafland

Text Link

Marcus Rashford

Inspiration

When Marcus Rashford was asked to be the face of British luxury brand Burberry in 2020, he wasn’t just chosen for his boyish good looks. The Manchester United forward had already earned praise for using his celebrity to campaign for social change, and that activism meshed perfectly with the brand’s desire to give back by donating to the youth projects he supported.

The letter that Rashford wrote to his ten-year-old self as part of the launch touched many. Indeed, ‘joining forces for good’ was not only a match made in sartorial heaven, it was the perfect platform for him to take his message to a wider audience. Simply collaborating on a range of tracksuits was never going to be enough. Not for a player whose ambition to drive societal progress has come to define him – proving once again that collaborations built on shared interests and values always enjoy the most success.

Megan Rapinoe

Trailblazer

When it comes to style, Megan Rapinoe is pretty badass. The OL Reign and USA stalwart doesn’t follow trends or prescribe to any fashion formula. Her look is unique. Whatever it is, she’s got it in spades. But the real key to the former Olympique Lyonnais player’s cool is what she stands for. Both athlete and activist, she sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and also campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, while her Instagram feed avidly supports Black Lives Matter.

No surprise then that the fashion world has been queuing to sign her up. And, with male athletes having dominated past campaigns, the midfielder lauded the benefits of that wider cultural reach when she teamed up with Spanish luxury house Loewe last year. “Fashion is a really good indication and case study for the progression of women’s sports,” she said.

Marcus Rashford

Inspiration

When Marcus Rashford was asked to be the face of British luxury brand Burberry in 2020, he wasn’t just chosen for his boyish good looks. The Manchester United forward had already earned praise for using his celebrity to campaign for social change, and that activism meshed perfectly with the brand’s desire to give back by donating to the youth projects he supported.

The letter that Rashford wrote to his ten-year-old self as part of the launch touched many. Indeed, ‘joining forces for good’ was not only a match made in sartorial heaven, it was the perfect platform for him to take his message to a wider audience. Simply collaborating on a range of tracksuits was never going to be enough. Not for a player whose ambition to drive societal progress has come to define him – proving once again that collaborations built on shared interests and values always enjoy the most success.

Megan Rapinoe

Trailblazer

When it comes to style, Megan Rapinoe is pretty badass. The OL Reign and USA stalwart doesn’t follow trends or prescribe to any fashion formula. Her look is unique. Whatever it is, she’s got it in spades. But the real key to the former Olympique Lyonnais player’s cool is what she stands for. Both athlete and activist, she sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and also campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, while her Instagram feed avidly supports Black Lives Matter.

No surprise then that the fashion world has been queuing to sign her up. And, with male athletes having dominated past campaigns, the midfielder lauded the benefits of that wider cultural reach when she teamed up with Spanish luxury house Loewe last year. “Fashion is a really good indication and case study for the progression of women’s sports,” she said.

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

Shanice Van de Sanden

Free spirit

The flying Wolfsburg and Netherlands winger is as noted for her vibrant look as she is for her sporting talent. But while there are plenty of labels she admires, Shanice van de Sanden won’t just settle for endorsing other people. So much so that starting her own fashion company isn’t a case of if but when.

As she says herself, “I want my own brand. I want my own jewellery. I want a lot of things and I’m always thinking about stuff like that but, you know, I want the sick things. That’s why I’m waiting a little bit. There’s obviously a lot of brands that are very different, but I definitely want one that just says to me, ‘This is sick.’”

She’s actively involved with UEFA’s #WePlayStrong campaign to attract more girls to the prospect of playing football – and she was an obvious choice. “I believe that being me, being strong and being who I am will be the key to my success.” Watch this space.

Tiémoué Bakayoko

Entrepreneur

For some footballers, fashion has presented lucrative opportunities. Being a style ambassador can mean big money. But Bakayoko took things a step further after being approached by French brand Études. Not content with appearing as the face of the company, he soon ended up a shareholder, ambassador and collaborator all rolled into one, cementing his future outside the game.

“I’ve always loved fashion and my casual yet elegant style reflects that,” says the Chelsea midfielder, currently on loan at Napoli. “By becoming a shareholder I hope to inspire athletes and fashion houses to open up to new worlds and profiles. Difference is an asset.”

Now an investor and creative force, Bakayoko has forged a partnership that suits both parties. And, of course, the label gets to tap into Bakayoko’s loyal legion of social media followers. Everyone’s a winner.

Marcus Rashford

Inspiration

When Marcus Rashford was asked to be the face of British luxury brand Burberry in 2020, he wasn’t just chosen for his boyish good looks. The Manchester United forward had already earned praise for using his celebrity to campaign for social change, and that activism meshed perfectly with the brand’s desire to give back by donating to the youth projects he supported.

The letter that Rashford wrote to his ten-year-old self as part of the launch touched many. Indeed, ‘joining forces for good’ was not only a match made in sartorial heaven, it was the perfect platform for him to take his message to a wider audience. Simply collaborating on a range of tracksuits was never going to be enough. Not for a player whose ambition to drive societal progress has come to define him – proving once again that collaborations built on shared interests and values always enjoy the most success.

Megan Rapinoe

Trailblazer

When it comes to style, Megan Rapinoe is pretty badass. The OL Reign and USA stalwart doesn’t follow trends or prescribe to any fashion formula. Her look is unique. Whatever it is, she’s got it in spades. But the real key to the former Olympique Lyonnais player’s cool is what she stands for. Both athlete and activist, she sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and also campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights, while her Instagram feed avidly supports Black Lives Matter.

No surprise then that the fashion world has been queuing to sign her up. And, with male athletes having dominated past campaigns, the midfielder lauded the benefits of that wider cultural reach when she teamed up with Spanish luxury house Loewe last year. “Fashion is a really good indication and case study for the progression of women’s sports,” she said.

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