KTTP RADIO EP. 55 | GUERIILLA FC, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE & BVB

After a two week hiatus Drew chats with founder of Guerrilla FC’s Justin Salhani on the inspiration behind his brand, his thoughts on the World Cup kits, and the ever evolving blend of fashion and lifestyle with the beautiful game. He critiques designs, praises others, and predicts who takes it all in the World Cup this year. The guys also reflect on a multifaceted soccer culture that exists today, the praise it is receiving in the fashion world, and how far branding has come in recent years. Whether you like the boots, the kits, or the lifestyle, the game can reach anyone on any level.

We also recap the rise and fall of Liverpool in the Champions League Final (poor Karius), his opinion on Sergio Ramos’s controversial tackle on Mo Sallah, and what Zidane’s resignation means for Real Madrid moving forward. He also touches on the Dortmund vs. LAFC match that happened here in LA praising the class and respect of the Dortmund players.

You can check it all out below including some photos of Guerrilla FC’s recent releases:

SCOUTING REPORT: LET’S TALK BARCELONA & PSG

Aren’t we tired of talking about Real Madrid and the Champions League finals? Finally, Liverpool gets some of the UCL spotlight that has been dominated by Los Blancos for the past three seasons. Being a Barcelona fan myself, this weekend’s final is not something I am looking forward to. Of course I want Liverpool to snatch it from Madrid, but considering my bad luck in sports this year, I have a feeling the boys in white are going to win it again and I’m going to avoid all soccer forums until the World Cup – I don’t like facing the truth. And being a bitter Barcelona fan, I want to steal the big spotlight from these two teams, especially Madrid, at least for the length of this article. For this week’s Scouting Report, I’ll be covering Nivelcrack’s most recent release of their half-zip pullovers inspired by the colors of Barcelona and PSG.

Overall Design: The design of the two pieces are simple and clean. No graphics are integrated, but the main colors of each club were used to show the inspiration behind each piece. The colors of FC Barcelona are blue and red, which is also why they are known as the Blaugrana meaning blue and deep red in Catalan. The colors of PSG are blue, red, and white, hence the name of the piece is “Tricolor” after the three signature colors of the Parisian club. This is a contrast from the rest of Nivelcrack’s SS18 collection as most pieces from that collection were graphic-heavy. The structure of the pullover featuring the half-zip up to the neck is also a great look in my opinion, where it definitely has its roots in soccer.

Score: 4/5

Functionality: These pullovers are made from 100% polyester and yes you certainly can play on the pitch with these, and I actually recommend it as I’ve done so myself! The quality on these is up there with other tracksuits and tops from other major sporting apparel companies. The reason why tracksuits and athletic tops like these became a fashion trend was not just for its looks, but also how comfortable and practical they were for daily wear. When I first laid my hands on them, they felt rich and thick, but also light enough to not drag you down when you wear them.

Score: 5/5

Uniqueness: When you think of this criteria, you’re looking for something that is different from what’s out there right now in the market. Being a Barcelona fan and maybe from a biased perspective, I had a very positive first impression when I first saw the “Blaugrana” pullover. Not because anything in the design was out of this world, nor because it was something I haven’t seen before, but because it perfectly captured how I would want to represent my club without having to boast about the actual crest of the football club. It had just enough of the Barcelona DNA (shout-out Xavi) for me to want to wear it.

Score: 4/5

Details: The details of both pullovers are in their colors, but not much else. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the point of this release was to have the colors be the focus of the overall design, and I think Nivelcrack played their cards right with this one. This is the only way for us to talk about Barcelona and PSG during this time of the month, and I want to thank these two pieces for giving me an opportunity to snatch some of the spotlight from the Madridistas of what would soon be a terrible weekend for me.

Score: 3/5

You can now purchase the Blaugrana and Tricolore Half-zip Pullovers from RBC for US customers or Nivelcrack.

KTTP RADIO EP. 53 | LAFC HOME OPENER VIBES

This week on KTTP Radio Drew and Anthony discuss movement at Arsenal including Arsene Wegner stepping down and their proverbial implosion against Atletico Madrid. He then previews Champions League going forward including a Liverpool and Roma recap and Liverpool on a roll.

Rich and Drew share the highlights from LAFC’s home opener at Banc of California Stadium against the Seattle Sounders. LAFC won the match 1-0 but the best part was the fandom and the culture beforehand. Take a listen here:

THIS WEEKS INSTAGRAM BEST 11

It’s clichéd but truly more than any other sports soccer and it’s culture never sleep. As we head toward the holidays artists, designers and taste-makers continue to give us fresh pieces of inspiration. From a new Antoine Griezman line to a fresh Jorge Campos pin from Park Owls FC, here are This Weeks Instagram Best 11.

Continuing exploring this style with the greatest #9 in history #danielnyari

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We are massive fans of Daiel Nyari’s soccer driven artwork. In the piece he pays homage to one of the greatest to ever do it, Ronaldo Fenomono. Though his time at Inter was laced with injury, R9 remains an iconic staple of the Nerazzuri.

Cleatstagram shows a deconstructed Quinto Triunfo. The limited edition Mercurial was created for Cristiano Ronaldo’s 5th Balon D’or. What are your thoughts on the shiny new boots?

The people at Box2Box Hertitage show of this stellar and iconic Nike Borussia Dortmund kit. We’re digging the #Chicksinkits vibes and we’re suckers for that classic Nike Volt. Make sure to check out their website for more classic kits.

We spy Maradona, Mbappe and possibly Kaka…Florent Dumont shows off some of his brilliant and custom subbuteo figures. The man’s detail is impeccable and nearly all of his pieces are for sale at legendsoffootballminiatures.com.

Master of concepts, Marlon Settpace gives us the clean “What if?”. Neymar’s Mercurial Vapor gets a PSG paint job and it works to perfection. Wonder if the Brazilian starlet has laid his very expensive eyes on these?

Park Owls FC deserves shine for some of the best soccer pins in the game. We already copped the Zizou x Zisou and Ronaldo Mercurial Pins. Now they kill it with another homage to another legend “El Brody” Jorge Campos.

Pep Guardiola is leaving his mark on Manchester City. 🙌

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Bleacher Report hits us with a very poignant and cheek piece of art. Pep has the Sky Blues terrorizing the EPL with the dominance of Barca in the mid 00’s. This badge collab speaks volumes.

Puma all set to launch a new line with Mr. Hotline Bling himself, Antoine Griezman. The line officially launches today December 15th. Head over to Pumafootball.com to cop some fresh new Grizi gear.

Barca x Kappa

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Back to a time when Pep and Mourinho worked together. Kappa will forever a be an iconic brand tied to soccer’s glory days. Check out this crispy track jacket that screams 90s Blaugrana brilliance.

#TB #balmain @aubameyang97 @chrisbrownofficial 🔥🔥🔥 LIT

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Kevin Prince Boateng was on his “Throwback Thursday” vibes when he rehashed this pic of C Breezy and Aubamayang. We’re not sure when, or how this photo came about, but it’s always funny to see professional soccer players fanboy.

Artist Jimmy O’Mara gives a unique “What if?” courtesy of this brilliant piece with the red hot Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian striker is dressed in the iconic adidas strip worn by the Reds during the 92/93 season.

BEST 11 KITS OF 2017/18 SEASON

Summer is officially over and most leagues across the worlds are now, thankfully in full swing. While most teams unveiled their arsenal of kits prior to their respective seasons, there were a few stragglers that dropped as late as yesterday. With other media outlets releasing their lists weeks ago, we patiently waited for the aforementioned late drops and sure enough one of those kits made our list. A calculated risk but well worth it. Now without further rhetoric, let’s take a big ol’ subjective dive into our favorite kits for the 2017/18 season. 

11. Newcastle United Third by Puma

After an unprecedented “Step Out” campaign which saw every team under the Puma umbrella receive a black kit, we picked Newcastle’s as the best of the considerable bunch. The all black shirt features subtle, monochrome, gradient stripes that take from the club’s iconic home strip. The Newcastle crest perfectly compliments the metallic gold accents by way of Puma and sponsorship branding. An all around clean, stealthy and classy kit.

10. Liverpool Home by New Balance

So many of the best things in life are simple. Music, food and especially a good soccer kit. New Balance clearly took this to heart when designing Liverpool’s 2017/18 home strip. Marking the club’s 125th anniversary, the simple shirt takes direct inspiration from the Red’s 1984 European cup winning side. The throwback vibes come from a  distinguished white v-neck collar and cuffs along with tonal pinstripes all on that legendary Liverpool red. Of all the kits on the list, this one wins for its off-pitch versatility.  

9. Hamburg Away by adidas

adidas came strong with their classic inspired kits this season. Naturally, the bigger teams got the majority of the hype, but we fancied Hamburg’s away number as a standout. Though the print never actually featured on any of the club’s previous kit’s, the all-over diamond design which took from the club’s crest, screams of brilliant 90s panache. The bold and beautiful marine blue also gives the shirt a fitting, vibrant backdrop for the white accents. 

8. Shakhtar Donetsk Home by Nike

Sometimes a team’s kit is hindered by its coloroway. Making orange and black look good can be difficult, but Nike has been slaying jerseys for the Dutch National for nearly three decades. On Shakhtar’s latest it appears they’ve taken from that history. The typically solid black stripes are reworked with a gradient blue beneath diagonal pinstripes. The classic orange stripes remain proud and untouched as ever along with solid black sleeves. We also love how clean that sponsorship logo looks across the chest. This kit is a rework of a classic, masterfully done. 

7. Manchester United Away by adidas 

This was the first kit that set the precedent for what adidas (and many other brands) would be doing for several of their releases. Dipping back into their archives, adi resurrected this iconic print which was worn by Manchester United’s legendary “Class of ’92” in their first season. Opting for a tonal black/grey with white accents, the kit perfectly plays homage to its inspiration but with a sleeker, more modern fit. With high hopes for the season ahead, the Red Devils look for some good luck from successful seasons past. 

6. UNAM Pumas Home by Nike

Pumas have notoriously had some of the best kits in all of soccer. Last year’s Aztec print jerseys were absolute fire. It was a tough act to follow but Nike killed these. More minimal than its predecessor, Pumas home kit shines with simplicity and bold design. The white shirt employs that iconic navy-blue lion head with unique, rarely seen, horizontal stripes on the sleeves. Lisa MX jerseys are known for getting creative with sponsorship blasts and this one is no different as the DHL branding sits super high on the chest, near the collar. Another killer for the boys from Mexico City.

5. Huddersfield Town AFC Alternative by Puma

Not one to pass on the retro driven madness Puma joined the soiree with the newly promoted Huddersfield Town. Inspired by the famous ‘Flash Kit’ worn by the club from 91-93 this shirt is an almost identical throwback to one of the wildest designs ever. It features unique, horizontal, red and black stripes that mimic lines you’d see on a seismograph after an earthquake. Of all the throwback inspired pieces, this one was the most brazen, but Puma did an incredible job of bringing back a beloved cult classic. 

4. Inter Milan Third by Nike

This will probably be the most controversial of all the selections. Nike has taken flack for using the same templates across most of their jerseys. Especially this year, nearly every one of their third kits features the same tonal camo. What makes Inter’s stand above the rest for us, is the colorway. The folks at Nike are masters of color schemes and this kit is an example of that. The dark blue serves the minimalist vibes of the shirt brilliantly. Add the iconic volt accents from the branding and you have a smart kit steeped in simplicity with subtle doses of flair. 

3. Kaizer Chiefs Home by Nike

The Nike kit template is a few seasons old now. Tweaking it a must for the sake of maximizing its longevity. One simple way of doing so is by adding print that was previously only reserved for goalkeeper kits. As basic as that may seem it works brilliantly on the Kaizer Chiefs 17/18 home shirt. The South African club is given a loud all yellow kit with a gradient diamond print on the sleeves. We often talk about how branding accentuates the overall aesthetic of the best jerseys, this one is no different.

2. Celtic Away by New Balance

This kit is absolute fire flames, plain and simple. Created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s iconic Lisbon Lions European Cup victory. The shirt features Verdant and Eden Green horizontal stripes with gold accents on the New Balance branding, sponsorship blast and team crest which is specialized to read ” Lisboa 50 Aniversario.”  A woven two-button collar and gold trimmed shoulder seam tie up the jersey beautifully. This is a must have for Celtic fans, collectors, casual fans, dudes that like soccer, dudes that hate soccer etc..

1. Club America Home by Nike

While other brands went HAM with their retro repertoire, Nike, for the most part, stayed a more modern path with their releases. Then they came with this Jaw-dropping, nostalgia-gripping piece of Mexican legend. This harkens back to the days of a young Cuathemoc Blanco bunny-hopping around the Azteca like a madman. The iconic diamond print is gorgeously resurrected with modern tweaks but it’s all done so well while staying true to the club’s rich history. Without out a doubt our kit of the 2017/18 season. 

NEW BALANCE UNVEIL LIVERPOOL 2017/18 3RD KIT

Today New Balance has officially unveiled the new 2017/18 Liverpool FC third kit. As with the home and away, this years 3rd strip has been launched as part of the ‘Pure Liverpool FC’ campaign. In continuing the celebration of iconic periods from Liverpool’s 125 year history, the design inspiration comes from the original wooden signage of the famous Kop stand. The shirt is dominated by a Bold Citrus and accented with black on the collar, sleeves and logos. Further commemorative details are seen via a special 125th anniversary crest as well as the 96 emblem, encased by the eternal flames that sits at the nape of the neck and pays homage to the tragic events of Hillsborough.

The New Balance Liverpool FC 2017/18 Third Kit is available now at Newbalance.com

 

NEW BALANCE UNVEILS THE LIVERPOOL 2017/18 AWAY KIT

Today New Balance has unveiled Liverpool FC’s 2017/18 away kit. Just like their home strips, this years away shirt is part of the ‘Pure Liverpool FC’ campaign which draws from the club’s 125 year anniversary. Continuing to honor historic period’s within the club’s illustrious existence, the 2017/18 kit is inspired by Liverpool’s  first ever jersey worn in 1892, which featured a blue and white quartered pattern. Naturally a modern era requires a more modern design and fit. As such, the kit features contemporary and subtle green pinstripes in place of the sold slate it draws from. Black accents come by way of the collar, New Balance Branding and Liverpool crest.

The New Balance Liverpool FC 2017/18 away kit is available now at newbalance.com  

 

 

LIVERPOOL/KLOPP/HEAVY METAL KIT BY LOSDEJOS

Formerly eldejo and now losdejos, regardless of the moniker graphic designer Jason Lee continues to churn out intricately executed and thoughtful pieces of soccer ware. Last month he gave us the politically driven #DumpTrump kit, this month he gives an equally busy jersey albeit with lighter inspiration by way of Liverpool, Klopp and heavy metal. The kit is made up of iconic heavy metal flags and Liverpool scarves which have been sublimated onto polyester via the polygon/diamond patterns seen on the shirts worm by Liverpool from ’89-91. Imagery used by Slayer and the Liverpool born Iron Maiden are easy to see, the latter is also the inspiration for the name on the back as Dickinson is the surname of the legendary bands lead singer. The right sleeve also features a rework of the EPL badge and Liverpool’s YNWA mantra. The white circle features a purple Anarchy symbol instead of a Lion, while the words ‘You’ll Never Slay Alone’ border the badge.

For more on the Liverpool/Klopp/Heavy Metal kit go to Losdejos.com