Nike have really earned their stripes in South American football over recent years with this stripped-back Corinthians shirt a prime example of their work.
Nobody does classy striped kits quite like Brazilian clubs and this year, Nike gave Sao Paulo giants Corinthians a timeless update to a club classic design.
The style on show, black shirts with thin white stripes, dates back to the 1950s when the Time do Povo (The People’s Team) adopted the look as their alternative kit, giving a clear light and dark contrast to their famous white home jerseys.
This sleek and sophisticated little number pulls at our nostalgic heartstrings in the same way as a retro shirt, but Nike have still found room to use their latest materials and technology to provide airy comfort; but not at the expense of that cool Coringão aesthetic.
Less is most definitely more here, and nothing is overcomplicated.
Just witness that white v-neck collar, those audaciously clean-cut cuffs, and how the simplicity of the shirt allows the badge to take full prominence.
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista celebrated their 110th birthday in 2020, and any one of their estimated 30 million fans will tell you that it’s also 30 years since Timão (The Great Team) won their very first Brasileirão national championship title.
Those anniversaries are further commemorated with the inclusion of a neat little embossed detail in the player’s number sets, which include the image of 1990s hero Neto, reeling away after notching-up another goal for the club.
Nike complete the stylish head to toe kit by adding white shorts and black socks as the finishing ingredients of this beautifully refined recipe.
This faithful representation of one of Corinthians’ favourite kits is as pure and polished as it is simple.
Belíssimo!
Sartorial Soccer 