Playing with Pride Since 1986: the Hackney Women's FC x Hackney Empire kit
This year marks 125 years of Hackney Empire and 40 years of Hackney Women's FC, Europe's longest-running LGBTQIA+ football team. To mark both, Wood Street Walls has produced a football kit that brings the two institutions together: one that carries the theatre's history onto the pitch.
An LCF student design competition
The design comes from Daphne Scotto Di Carlo, a student at London College of Fashion, who won a paid student design competition run jointly by Wood Street Walls CIC, Hackney Empire and London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.
Working from Hackney Empire's Archive
Daphne worked from Hackney Empire's own archive and material held at Hackney Archives, drawing on the typography and print styles of historic playbills and tickets. The red of the kit references the theatre's seating.
Hackney through football and theatre
The design connects football and theatre as two places where communities gather to watch a performance. The kit carries the words "Playing with Pride Since 1986", marking Hackney Women's FC's history as Europe's longest-running LGBTQIA+ football team.
The shoot and creative
The campaign shoot was art-directed by Hackney Empire Young Producers with Wood Street Walls' Mark Clack and photographer Jake Green, featuring Hackney Women's FC players and Hackney Empire young artists.
Two anniversaries, one club, one shared place.
Hackney Women's FC was founded in 1986. Forty years on, and 125 years into Hackney Empire's own history, this kit puts both stories into something people can wear.
Funded and produced by Wood Street Walls CIC, made possible by the North London Waste Alliance, in partnership with London College of Fashion.
You can buy the jerseys and shorts in the collection through our pre-order link below. All kits are made to order to reduce waste and will be shipped within 2 weeks of order.