Kiton meets the world of football and dresses the players and team of the historic London club Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for formal occasions.
Kiton meets the world of football and dresses the players and team of the historic London club Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for formal occasions.
A subtle link has always bound the culture of the Neapolitan brand with the British world, as Ciro Paone, the founder of the fashion house, has always been devoted to British tailoring as a reference for understated elegance and quiet luxury.
The 2-year partnership will involve KNT (Kiton New Textures), the urbanwear line created in Italy in 2018 by twins Mariano and Walter De Matteis, the third generation of the Kiton family, which focuses on unceasing research into textiles, an innovative approach and a modern, sophisticated aesthetic, underpinned by the sartorial tradition and heritage of Kiton.
The decision to work with KNT for this project lies in the very nature of the brand. Certainly, the Mariano and Walter De Matteis’ passion for football undoubtedly played an important role in bringing the two worlds together, while London and its vibrant creative scene has always been an inspiration for their designs.
The dynamic attitude of the brand did the rest, perfectly matching the competitive spirit of the Premier League: ultra-light, agile fabrics enhancing silhouettes and embracing movement for a collection that combines comfort with a nonchalant urban attitude.
KNT has created three active tailoring outfits that the First Team squad and coaching staff will wear at selected matches during the season.
Kiton’s iconic, premium fabrics meet those borrowed from sport, all in shades of blue with touches of white, Tottenham Hotspur’s colours, which also recall the shades of the sea off the coast of Naples. A single-breasted mélange suit, entirely cut and sewn by hand, has a motif that recalls urban street surfaces. It is worn over a white cotton and linen crew-neck pullover and a cotton jersey polo shirt.
The second look epitomises the essence of KNT: a blue ensemble, made from Kiton’s exclusive 14-micron wool, with a snap button shirt jacket and jogger pants with details for easy on and off, worn over a fine cotton t-shirt. The third outfit consists of a zip-up hooded jacket made of compact nylon with a water-repellent, breathable and windproof membrane, a zip-up viscose sweatshirt, a short-sleeved crew-neck t-shirt and cotton jersey cargo trousers with pleated waist. All the footwear comprises sneakers that evoke street culture and convey an informal yet elegant attitude.
“The Tottenham Hotspur F.C. family is very similar to ours, so we immediately matched in terms of values. In addition, KNT embodies the agonistic, dynamic and outstanding spirit of the Premier League, which is one of the most watched in the world. For a company like Kiton, being part of London’s international scene through a partnership with a historic club like the Spurs is the best way to make a debut in the sports industry” – Antonio De Matteis, Kiton CEO.
“In Kiton we are proud to have a formalwear partner that will provide our players and coaching staff with exceptional design and tailoring, that will exude professionalism and maximise comfort as they arrive for matches – a crucial stage in the preparation for the 90 minutes ahead” – Ryan Noris, Commercial Sale Director at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Oh, when the saints (when the saints)
Go marching in (marching in)
Now, when the saints go marching in (marching in)
Yes, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
This lyrics became years ago the hymn of the team it means To Dare Is to Do. Tottenham’s name comes from the name of a 14th-century man from Northumberland, Sir Harry Hotspur , who featured in one of Shakespeare’s plays, Henry the Fourth.
Since the 1921 FA Cup Final the Tottenham Hotspur crest has featured a cockerel. Harry Hotspur, after whom the club is named, was said to have been given the nickname Hotspur as he dug in his spurs to make his horse go faster as he charged in battles, and spurs are also associated with fighting cock
So when the team enter in the stadium the Surs fans sing “Oh when the Spurs, go marching in / Oh when the Spurs, go marching in / I wan to be in that number / Oh when the Spurs go marching in.”
A bridge was built by Mariano and Walter, probably unconsciously driven by their passion for football and their profession, between Naples and London. The artistic art and Neapolitan disdainful attitude merge with the sanguine character of the British fans. The British team’s players are dressed in modern, well-designed clothing which they wear before and after battle on the field, and like ancient Greek warriors they wore tunics before and after the armor worn for wartime.
