Contrary to what the name "casuals" might suggest, football casuals distinguish themselves by wearing quality designer clothing. But what do clothing brands such as Weekend Offender, Fred Perry, Stone Island and Ma.Strum have to do with football? And how did this subculture of football casuals come about? We have to look for the origins in the hooliganism of football, and in particular among the supporters of English football clubs. This subculture used to be compared to hooligan clothing and to this day it still has this image. It is true that football casuals have acquired a much broader meaning than just the association with hooligans. Wearing well-known football casuals brands nowadays also stands for style, class and well-dressed men, but is still inextricably linked to the sport of football and its natural origins.
When football clubs such as West Ham United, Liverpool and Everton started touring Europe in the 1980s, they were accompanied by a steady fan base and supporters. These trips were not always without disturbances. The expensive clothing with which the supporters of these clubs returned was often stolen during riots from the shops of exclusive Italian or French fashion brands. the police.
Because these had a typical image of the clothes worn by hooligans at the time, wearing football casual brands meant they went unnoticed by the police or regulators. These mainly had the image of bomber jackets and Dr. Martens shoes in front of them as they searched the crowd for rioters. Expensive designer clothing allowed the football hooligans to move as freely as possible. This English subculture, which originated in the 1970s, also spread to other countries in Europe in the mid-1980s. It was in the nineties that this subculture got a big boost again. Football casuals got a much wider audience after this time.
The expensive designer clothing was worn by the supporters of the football clubs to distinguish themselves, and imitation brands of the clothing were not tolerated. When the authorities and the police also began to see a connection between supporters wearing the Stone Island clothing brand, the well-known brand logo with the compass was often removed from the clothing. The Stone Island logo could easily be removed from the clothing by means of buttons, but real insiders immediately recognized this clothing style. This brand was of course still worn, but other football casual brands also became popular among the followers of this subculture. The Stone Island logo was also associated with the so-called Celtic cross by the police. This, too, was without a doubt a reason why the casual scene started to wear other clothing brands.
Football casuals is the last subculture of English football
The penchant for football casuals clothing has grown over the years to include much more than wearing designer clothes. This last subculture of English football mainly has to do with the love for football and listening to a certain genre of music. Football casuals brands are still inseparable from hooliganism to this day, but it has also become a complete lifestyle. This way of life is mainly characterized by wearing high-quality designer clothes, but more and more a kind of group feeling is being added to it.
Music that fits the football casuals culture is wide ranging and different for everyone. Yet there are traditionally bands that were a perfect connection for this subculture. The music of The Charlatans and Oasis, among others, was highly appreciated by followers of this casual culture, and this also appealed to younger audiences. Real British music groups like The Streets wore this casual fashion in their music videos. This attracted the attention of a wide and young audience. Film productions about hooliganism such as The Football Factory, Green Street Hooligans and ID have also ensured that this subculture was once again brought to the attention. With its peak in the late 1980s, it was said that the aggressive character of this casual subculture had disappeared. This was partly due to the rise of Acid House and rave.
From hooligan clothing to beautiful football casuals brands
Today, football casuals brands are still associated with this group of supporters, and are a true subculture in their own right. The beautiful clothing from labels such as Weekend Offender, Peaceful Hooligan, Fred Perry, Ma.Strum and Henri Lloyd are still seen as real football casual brands. The football casuals subculture is still keen to distinguish itself from supporters in club jerseys by wearing high quality designer clothing. Movies such as Green Street Hooligans are a realistic representation of the image of this group, and the clothing brands they wear. Partly because of this, the casual brand Stone Island is still connected to today's hooliganism. You will therefore find the exclusive-looking clothing with the recognizable logo everywhere in Europe, especially around football stadiums.
Hooligan clothing is all too often portrayed as being jeans with a black hoodie and a quilted bomber jacket. Also wearing Dr. Marten's chests were an unmistakable appearance for hooligans. The current subculture trend rightly negates this. Today, hooligans and football casuals remain connected through the exclusive clothing style they share. Football casuals brands are for the man who likes to go through life well dressed with an exclusive but sporty look. They value quality clothing with beautiful details in a unique design. The urge to be distinctive is still there, and is expressed by wearing typical and exclusive clothing brands associated with football casuals.
