Manchester music scene has its say.
On Wednesday night, after the first showing with the City fans, Umbro and Manchester City gave a sneak preview of the shirt to some the biggest hitters in the Manchester music industry — who also happen to be massive City fans. Just to name-drop, we had the likes of Noel Gallagher, Badly Drawn Boy and Mike Pickering all keen to get an early peek at the strip. It’s fair to say that our guests did not leave disappointed by what they saw, check what Noel had to say.
There was a distinct buzz in the air about what was going to be unveiled and having spoken to many guests it was clear to see why. They spoke of their kits from previous seasons, how they were anything but great, how things could improve. I don’t think they realised just how much it could improve, though. There was genuine excitement when the kits were finally put out on view. The ‘proper’ City blue of the home jersey has been restored and it not only fits its purpose, it is genuinely wearable. The idea of the new City kit being tailored gained lots of positive feedback, not least because (according to the attendees themselves) it feels as though time and thought has gone into the kit.
The away kit, however, came under a little more scrutiny. That’s not to say it wasn’t liked, because it was. A black shirt with gold slashes in the shoulders, a simple, striking kit. It’s just that the thinking was lost on some of those at the viewing — myself included. You see, we understood the concept was based upon the Manchester Bee on the coat of arms of the city, we just didn’t know its significance. I though, have remedied that and will let you in on the bee’s importance. It appears that the bee symbolises the city of Manchester being a hive of industry during the 19th Century, and is seen as a symbol of hard work. All of a sudden, the bee concept makes perfect sense.
Moving onto the third kit, this was the one that got most reaction. An ‘old school‘ white shirt with a black and red sash running across the front. The main talking point was how the club sponsor has been moved to underneath the club crest, therefore not interfering with the design of the shirt. It’ll definitely get people talking.
Judging by the overall reaction to the kits, City should expect a lot of interest in it.
On 5 Jun 2009, at 2:59 pm curswine wrote:
Good to hear that Noel likes it
I don’t think small sashes of gold on the shoulders can really be considered to be representative of a bee though, if it had hoops then I could but other than that, you’re really clutching at straws with that idea.
On 7 Jun 2009, at 12:46 pm New Manchester City shirt to be Similar to the England shirt? | Football Shirts wrote:
[...] have been ramping up the PR machine for this launch with a sneak preview seen below, support from Noel Gallagher and Kid British a Manchester [...]
On 11 Jun 2009, at 1:10 pm sharan wrote:
Hi curswine, the bee concept (and more specifically, the colours) formed a base for the Away kit to be designed from. It is more about the meaning behind the bee rather than the actual bee itself.
On 11 Jun 2009, at 2:21 pm Richard Rogers wrote:
@ the first comment made by “curswine”…
The bees represents the industry which the city of Manchester is renowned for. You want hoops to represent the bee? How cliche, how cheesy… Umbro is clearly heading in the direction of well designed, tailored and timeless looking harments/kits. Having understated representations of a bee on the shoulders of a kit shows research into the history of the Man City and its crest but doesn’t overdo the representation. Man City is known for more than just industry and to put hoops to represent bees is a stupid idea.
Good work Umbro. You’re showing research, style and tailoring in your garments now and not just throwing random colours, shapes or designs into them.
On 12 Jun 2009, at 3:34 pm J-money wrote:
Tailored in England… and made in China. Are trading standards okay with that label.
ps.. How are Umbro going to have any new products now that they sacked all the designers? Is aitor gonna do it all? hehe..
On 12 Jun 2009, at 10:58 pm Tom wrote:
Hi J-money.
The shirts are designed and tailored at Umbro in England, where they are made is printed on the label of each individual shirt. We haven’t sacked all our designers at all – I have seen them working on new shirts today!
On 9 Jun 2010, at 11:32 am judith wrote:
I cant wait to get mine, im having Barry on the back.