In the Atelier With Vintage Threads for Its Man City Women x PUMA Football Collab
Hypebae goes behind the making of the exclusive reworked bomber jackets.
North London-based Vintage Threads is at the helm of a new style phenomenon: reworked football garments. From upcycled jerseys to patchwork bucket hats, the brand is known for turning pre-loved uniforms into one-of-a-kind streetwear pieces, giving fans a unique way to support their favorite clubs.
For its latest project, Vintage Threads brings its sustainably-focused craft to Manchester City Women and its players in celebration of their victory in the Women’s Super League – the team’s first title win in 10 years. Having led the league since November, maintaining an impressive home win record, the designers have collaborated with PUMA Football to repurpose its current Home, Away and Third kits into statement bomber jackets, immortalizing one of Manchester City Women’s most historic moments to date.
Speaking on the collaboration, Maria Kiebacher from PUMA Football shared, “We wanted to create something truly bespoke for Manchester City Women to celebrate this special moment — a unique piece that brings together all three kits worn across the season, blending performance and lifestyle. Alongside this, we introduced a distinct goalkeeper jacket that adds something different and is truly unique. At PUMA Football, we take pride in creating products that live at the intersection of performance and culture, always with the consumer at the heart.”
Ahead of presenting the jackets, Hypebae caught up with the brand’s Head of Rework, Caitlin Finan, to find out more about the process. “This is definitely a bigger project compared to our normal work,” she begins to say as she dials in from the studio. “We make small quantities, usually one-of-one pieces, but this requires a lot more thinking around how we’re going to produce 29 individual bomber jackets.”
The design began by mocking up several ways the kits could be repurposed into jackets as well as other outerwear. After establishing the bomber jacket silhouette, sampling came next, which involved trialling materials for the lining and experimenting with fastenings and cuff styles.
“We’ve designed both the main jacket and the goalkeeper’s jacket around the pattern placement and the cutting so we can ensure that we don’t cut through any of the Man City crests and PUMA Football logos on the two remaining two shirts that we’re using,” explains Finan. The pieces are then sewn together to create the final two jacket designs, each boasting a boxy shape with striking taped seams, matching panels, and two PUMA Football logos accenting the shoulders.
Whilst the process sounds seemingly straightforward, it’s not been an easy feat. Having started the project only two months before the presentation of the jackets, the team has been against the clock throughout the entire development. “We’ve had to make decisions quickly because it’s a tight deadline,” Finan expresses. “But, it’s good to have a lot of different heads. If something goes wrong, then we can brainstorm the different options.”
She adds, “It’s definitely a different headspace to making a garment from scratch because there’s a limited amount of fabric. You can’t just get another roll of fabric and make as many samples as possible. It’s about thinking the whole deconstruction and reconstruction process through to an exact detail.”
Vintage Threads
Vintage Threads
Vintage Threads
Vintage Threads
After checking in with Vintage Threads, the jackets went on to be gifted to Manchester City Women. “We love the way the bespoke jackets use all the different kits the women have worn in their successful WSL campaign this year,” expressed Serena Gosling of City Football Group on the reception. “All of the players enjoy styling shirts and products in different ways, so it felt fitting to celebrate this moment with these unique jackets – allowing the players to bring some of their on pitch look, off the pitch.”
Freddie Rose, CEO of Vintage Threads, adds, “Fans love seeing that their club has taken a more creative route of celebrating such a great moment and seeing the players enjoy something a little bit more alternative and fashion-led. [Vintage Threads] sees so much value both from individual engagement but also the engagement with the club and the players. Reworking has become a great way for fans to express personal passion for their club and that’s why it’s quickly becoming our most popular category.”
Discover more on how Manchester City Women are using fashion in football by checking out Hypebae’s exclusive interview with center-back Jade Rose.
You can find out about the Vintage Threads x PUMA Football reworked Manchester City Women jackets online now.
