Umbro's '17-3': A Love Letter to Ireland, Stitch by Stitch
Right, so, St. Patrick's Day, yeah? It's more than green beer and parades – it's about roots, about stories etched into the very soil. And this year, Umbro's dropping something special: the '17-3' collection. Two jerseys that aren't just fabric and thread; they're a proper conversation between Irish heritage and the beautiful game.
Now, Umbro and Ireland go way back – a few kit hookups over the years. But these shirts? They’re different. It's like they're saying, "Remember us? Remember what we can create together?" One screams Ireland, all that green, white, and orange pride. The other? A deep, soulful blue, a nod to St. Patrick's OG cloak, way back when.
But it's the little things, innit? The details that make you stop and feel.
See that pattern, snaking through the material? That's the Triquetra, a Celtic knot that's been around since time immemorial. It's all about connection: past, present, future. It's the fans, holding onto hope through thick and thin, the players, carrying the weight of a nation on their shoulders. Football, like that knot, binds us together.
And the crest? A mashup of St. Patrick, the shamrock, and the date. Respectful, but with a wink to what's next. Even Umbro's double diamond – usually all corporate and clean – gets a bit of the craic. On the green shirt, it's decked out in the Irish flag. On the blue, it's that warm, golden hue, tying everything together like a perfectly poured pint of Guinness.
But here's the real kicker: the campaign. Umbro's not just flogging shirts; they're shining a light on the real deal.
They've tapped Mark William Logan to direct and CLTV.Film in Dublin to produce a film with Rónán O' Snodaigh, the bódhran wizard, keeping the pulse of Irish tradition alive. Leah Hayden Cassidy, ex-footballer, is taking her barber skills to London. EFÉ, the music star, is showing the world what Irish sounds can be. Phil Halton is building skateparks in the middle of nowhere.
These are the stories worth telling. They're all Ireland is about.
So, yeah, go grab an Umbro '17-3' jersey if you like. Umbro.co.uk and all that… But more importantly, remember the people, remember the stories, remember the roots.
That’s what St. Patrick’s Day is truly about.
