PUMA launches a brand new audio and video series exploring the history and environmental impact of football shirts
What’s the cultural significance of football shirts on and off the pitch? When were they invented? And what impact do football shirts have on the environment? These are some of the questions hosts Jack Fowler, former semi-professional footballer, and Kimberley Cumberbatch, content creator, explore in PUMA’s upcoming podcast series Who Gives A Shirt.
Launching on 2nd October, the video podcast celebrates the football shirt as a symbol of identity, passion, and community and uncovers its rich and fascinating history, all the way from the inception of football in the 1800s right up to the present day. Expert guests such as James Harkin from No Such Thing as a Fish and sportswear designer Hattie Crowther join the hosts to offer their insights. Collectively they discuss the cultural relevance and importance of football shirts with an emphasis on its environmental footprint.
The launch episode of Who Gives A Shirt serves as a fact-finding session. Kimberley, who has been open about her lack of knowledge of football, asks co-host Jack and expert guest Xaymaca Awoyungbo about the origins of football shirts. Xaymaca shares that football kits were first introduced in 1870 and, before their invention, people used to wear flannel shirts or formal wear when playing football. Women, on the other hand, were obliged to wear so-called knickerbockers as well as heels - not very practical! They also discuss the use of home and away kits; the reason why numbers and names were added to football shirts; the introduction of the football league in 1888 and when branded sponsorships took off on football shirts.
Mixing history with the answers you’ve always wanted to know about today’s shirts and a whole lot of banter, Who Gives A Shirt is an informative and playful podcast to watch and listen to. Whether you’re a football fan or not, this deep-dive into football shirts is definitely worth a listen.
Upcoming episodes include:
A discussion with James Harkin from No Such Thing as a Fish on how crucial football shirts are when it comes to performance.
An episode with designer Hattie Crowther which delves into how the football shirt has migrated from the pitch to the streets as a style staple.
A heartwarming interview with Angela, a die-hard Manchester City fan, talking about why shirts mean so much to fans and giving Kimberley a lesson in how to do the “Poznan”.
An exploration behind the materials of football shirts and their environmental impact- featuring Andrew, one of PUMA’s Voices of a RE:GENERATION, who also unpacks the brand’s textile-to-textile recycling initiative, RE:FIBRE.
Who Gives A Shirt is a FOREVER.BETTER podcast, brought to you by PUMA. Produced by Mags Creative and MSL. Episode 1 is available on all major platforms on 2nd October 2025.
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