In Conversation | Antonia Bronze, Designer Of The Pro:Direct x Nike Tiempo Luxe Jacket

Bridging the worlds of football and fashion with a deft touch, Antonia Bronze is crafting a legacy that blends artistry, culture, and a deep-rooted love for the game. A designer with an unrelenting eye for detail and an unwavering passion for her craft, her creations have graced some seriously celebrated figures across sport and entertainment, carving out a niche that speaks to both the heritage and the future of football-inspired fashion.

From an early obsession with sewing to working alongside the industry’s elite, Bronze has honed a skillset that transforms garments into storytelling canvases. It’s a journey that began with a spark of inspiration—a charity walk that led to an unexpected opportunity, one that fanned a creative fire. Since then, every stitch, every thread, and every panel of fabric tells a tale, meticulously constructed with an obsessive attention to detail.

Now, with a standout project in collaboration with Pro:Direct Soccer, creating the bespoke Nike Tiempo Luxe jackets that were worn by Leah Williamson and Jamal Musiala, Antonia Bronze is taking things to the next level, blending bespoke craftsmanship with football culture in a way that feels both timeless and fresh. We caught up with her to talk origins, inspirations, and what it takes to create pieces that redefine the intersection of fashion and football.

You have an amazingly unique skill with your jacket creation. How did it all begin?

I've always been quite creative; always in the arts corner, always at art club. When I went to secondary school and textiles lessons, I was obsessed with sewing. I would YouTube how to make things, mostly random stuff.

I actually think the thing that inspired me the most was when I did a charity walk for the Royal Marsden. It was a 14-mile walk, and I was walking with this lady and I was telling her how much I love sewing, and she invited me along to be the place that does the dresses for Strictly Come Dancing. I was about 14 at the time, and I got to learn how to do leotards and all these different techniques. I learned how to decorate, learned how to put a zip in, and when I was in that environment, they gave me loads of fabrics and things and I was just so inspired. I knew then that I wanted to be in that environment. What’s weird is the first time I ever went into a fabric shop, I actually got really emotional because I just knew that I wanted to do this.

Did you always have an ambition to cross football and fashion?

It's funny, because in my year six book, I said that one of my favourite memories was getting to go to the David Beckham Academy and that what I wanted to be when I was older was a fashion designer, so it's been on the cards all that time! My dad used to go to my football matches and I loved that, it really helped develop my passion for the game. And I loved making stuff – I’ve literally always known I wanted to be a designer, and now that has thankfully been able to cross over with my love of football.

This latest project is part of a link up with Pro:Direct Soccer. How did that come about?

Out of the blue they messaged me one day with the proposal and I genuinely wasn't sure if it was a real enquiry or not, because it seemed too good to be true. But obviously it was! And the rest is history. Turns out they had seen the work I've done previously with things like the Bergkamp jacket, so we spoke a lot on the [Tiempo jacket] project, and it developed really well. I love how it's gone and I'm super excited by the results of this project – it's probably my favourite one so far to date. But yeah, essentially it all started with a DM and an email.

Talk us through the process of putting something like this together?

So, for something like this, there's a lot of steps. First things first, I speak to the client, in this case Pro:Direct Soccer, and I get an idea of what they're after. Then I'll schedule in a meeting and go through with them exactly what they want to include. It's all about good communication at this stage.

I'll send them samples to try to see the different colours available, and if the colour’s not there I will then source the right colour for them. Then I’ll start the design process and I tend go back and forth with them as many times as needed until it gets to a point where they really like it and are happy.

Depending on the project, it's quite nice to research, so I enjoy that part of the process, looking into the story behind a potential design. I do a lot of mood boarding and a lot of reading as well. If it's for a gift for someone, I’ll throw ideas back and see what sticks. Once the final design is confirmed, then I start making, and that has a lot of stages as well.

I need to get the measurements and then make sure the pattern’s right, the placement for the embroidery and so on. There's just a lot of stages.

What’s the hardest part of creating these pieces?

I'd probably say the level of detail; every part is very thought out, from the sizes of the stitches to the colour of the thread of the stitching going over. If there's a section of green leather, it must be green threads; that goes on top of that, this goes here. It all has to feel right otherwise it really annoys me! I like everything to be crisp. All the proportions need to be spot on. The thread needs to be really nice. I've had times where the embroidery has not come out how I want it and so I redo it. The fit needs to be perfect too.

Sometimes I don't get all the measurements, so that can make the process a little bit harder. In all honesty, there's a lot of components that must go right, and there's a lot of stages for it to get to that point. If I don't hit those beats it just won't have the finish that I want.

When did your love of football begin?

My brother loved football and I always looked up to him growing up. I joined the football team in school and got to go to the David Beckham Academy when I was in primary school. I have so many memories of playing football in the garden with my brother and cousins.

One really fond memory I have was when me and my family got to go to the Emirates for a tour – it was a really special day. That’s part of the reason why I have a particular soft spot for Arsenal.

Most of your creations are very Arsenal-centric. Would you ever consider creating for players (and their wags) from other clubs?

Absolutely. I actually have a few in the pipeline, so yeah, I'm open to it, I just have a soft spot for Arsenal. I just love to create, so would always come at a project from a neutral perspective when it comes to my design work.

As well as football, you’ve also created a jacket that was worn by the great Idris Elba. If you could create a jacket for anybody in the world to wear, who would it be and why?

Honestly last year when this project began my dream person to design for was Leah Williamson, so now that’s happened I need time to think who’s next.

Outside of football I think someone like Jackie Chan would be great, because I just think he's a complete legend. I think it's so cool that he does all his stunts and I've just got mad respect for him. Perhaps it would be a duo set for Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker! I think they both look great in leather jackets. I would love that.

Do you have any other upcoming projects for 2025 that you could share with us?

I don't think I can share any but already the next year's looking very, very busy. I'm so grateful for everything going on right now. But it's looking like a crazy year from lots of different industries as well. Not just football, which is really surreal, lots of different brands reaching out from different industries.