Inspired by the role of the city of Liverpool and its docks in painting naval ships during the First World War, Hummel and Everton launch the club’s home shirt for the 21/22 season.
It’s a big season ahead for Everton. As a club they are on the cusp of moving on to another level, with an impressive new stadium right around the corner. And for their on-pitch matters they’ve controversially turned to former Reds manager Rafa Benitez. While we wait to see how that plays out, we now know what they’ll be wearing for their home games in the coming campaign, with the unveiling of their new home shirt from hummel, joining the previously revealed away shirt.
The use of the dazzle pattern is inspired by the role of the city of Liverpool and its docks in painting naval ships with the inventive and bold livery during the First World War. The brainchild of a British marine artist, the use of contrasting shapes, tones and colours proved highly effective at disguising a vessel's size, speed, distance and direction, confusing the enemy at sea.
To this day, the practice is celebrated in Liverpool through a working Mersey ferry ‘Everybody Razzle Dazzle’, painted to commemorate the dazzle ships in 2014 as part of the city’s First World War centenary activities.
As well as the integrated dazzle pattern, Everton's 2021/22 home kit features a yellow and white trim on both the sleeves and its collar, which is rounded. hummel’s iconic chevrons also appear in white on the shirt and royal blue on the shorts and socks.
Mesh panelling under the arms and down the sides works alongside vents at the bottom of the shirt to ensure breathability and enable high-level performance, while the polyester created using hummel’s ECO8 technology gives the kit a rich, silk-like feel.
Everton defender Michael Keane, who took part in the photoshoot for the new kit, added: “We’re all looking forward to having our incredible fans back at Goodison Park supporting us this season and getting to see and wear the new kit only adds to the excitement that’s already building for that first game against Southampton.
“I really liked what hummel did with all three kits last season and I think this year’s have taken that on and are even better. The kit looks and feels great when you’re wearing it and I’m sure it’s going to be really popular with the fans.”
Everton's home goalkeeper strip for 2021/22 also takes inspiration from dazzle, with a shirt comprising black, blue and yellow stripes, black shorts and black socks.
Alan McTavish, Commercial Director at Everton, said: "On the back of last season's home shirt becoming the fastest-selling in the Club’s history, we are excited to launch our 2021/22 strip and hope it will once again prove popular with Evertonians all across the world.
“hummel’s creative process of how to take something like dazzle, which forms an interesting part of our city’s history, and weave it into our kits has been really interesting to see. They have also once again shown their commitment to our fans by going to great lengths to involve them in the launch of this kit to illustrate the Club's popularity and how it touches people in all four corners of the globe.”
Everton's 2021/22 home kit is available to pre-order now online at evertondirect.com and will be available to buy online and in store from Thursday 15 July.
