The harmonious placement of Club Libertad’s sponsor’s logo on their new collection of camisetas confirms this prime example of South American Sartorial Soccer as belonging to an entirely Different Class of kit!
The 20 times Paraguayan champions from the capital city of Asunción have released a set of new kits with a distinctly retro feel.
Club Libertad’s classy black and white striped home shirt pays homage to their 1976 side who broke a 21 year wait between national championships.
Local brand Saltarin Rojo have stepped in to fill the gap left between the end of Nike’s contract, and the expected arrival of Puma as kit supplier in June.
Continuing Nike’s good work from the past couple of seasons, the clean lines and understated collar and cuff details recall classic Newcastle United shirts of old, but it’s the placement of sponsors Pulp’s logo that raises these shirts above the crowd.
We’re sorry to say that Jarvis Cocker is not involved with Club Libertad and that the Pulp in question here are purveyors of an entirely different style of pop.
Pulp are Paraguay’s premier soft drink producer (not just any old Common People – sorry!), and rather than paste their corporate branding across the shirt in juicy red, green or orange; they’ve toned down their logo in harmony with Club Libertad’s colours.
Saltarin Rojo’s own branding sits modestly beneath a commemorative tag paying tribute to that team from ’76.
The result is a home shirt so good it looks like it could be vintage.
Club Libertad’s winged badge and Pulp’s logo can also be found on their away and third shirts in white and red that continue that classic retro influence.
The calls for football shirt “friendly” sponsor placement have grown in volume, with Serie A rumoured to be considering a move to tidy up rules on how logos can be displayed on shirts.
We didn’t even know we had a favourite team from the Paraguayan Primera División, but these classically cut vintage style shirts, with clean lines and expertly placed finer details, really appeal to the inner-geek in us.
This, right here, is South American Sartorial Soccer!
Sartorial Soccer 