The partnership between Umbro and LC23 has always brought about the birth of iconic pieces, that skilfully blend tailoring and football tradition. Now we are at the third chapter, entitled #19, and at the centre of the capsule there is an inspiration that tickles the historical memory of Italians: the Notti Magiche of 1990, the last and unforgettable World Cup hosted in our country. The line is part of the “Tailored for Umbro” series and draws inspiration, at least initially, from the memories created by Leo Colacicco – founder of LC23 – during that unforgettable Italian summer: «One of my most vivid memories of the tournament», recounted Colacicco, «is the England national team, with that fantastic Umbro kit, and the iconic number 19, Gazza (nickname of Paul Gascoigne, great protagonist of Italia 90, ed.), who stood out on the pitch for his technical and competitive qualities, and off the pitch for his exuberant character».
These memories led to the birth of three double-layer formal shirts, made in Italian Oxford fabric and produced by Apulian artisans. Each piece is composed of a plain upper part and a lower part with pinstripes. The main references are three of the most iconic match kits among those launched at Italia 90: a white Home, a red Away and a light-blue Third. The historic symbols – the logos and the sponsor marks, the players’ numbers – have been reinterpreted with patches and high-quality embroidery. The number 23, which obviously harks back to the soul of LC23, has been replaced with the number 19: that of Gazza Gascoigne, the one that identifies the collab. The campaign is set in the city of Bari, with some shots in the unmistakable setting of the San Nicola stadium, while the look is completed by cufflinks with the Umbro logo.
Helene Hope, responsible for the global marketing of the Umbro brand, said that: «Leo’s knowledge and love of football, as well as his creativity and his sense of humour, are clearly perceptible in this collaboration. We are always enthusiastic about working with LC23; Leo always manages to bring an element of surprise to Umbro’s over 100 years of history. These shirts are for the true connoisseurs of football, who will appreciate the “IYKYK” (If You Know You Know) approach to the details».
