Iconic bands, The Jam and The Style Council, have teamed up with Britain’s first sportswear brand, Admiral, to create limited edition football shirts inspired by one of England’s greatest ever kits.

The England Admiral 1982 shirt is iconic, with simple clean lines and contrasting colours, it’s a football shirt which is deemed a design classic. The Jam famously split that same year, in December of 1982. Their last gig was in Brighton, where an exhibition ‘This is the Modern World’ will take place this summer. From the ashes of the band’s split The Style Council was formed by Paul Weller in early 1983.

The collaboration brings together British institutions from the sport and music world. The music of The Jam, and later The Style Council, sparked the mod revival in the 70s and 80s.

Around the same time, Admiral were pioneering modern football, being at the forefront of football shirt design in an era that saw them produce the first ever replica-shirt.

These paralleled British stories have connected to produce two designs celebrating these symbolic bands.

“I love what Admiral have done with these shirts. Very cool”

- Paul Weller

The Jam shirt is influenced by Admiral’s famous 1982 England kit design. The blue colourway honours the third kit that disappointingly never made it onto the pitch at Spain ‘82.

The crest design was inspired by an original 1980s pin badge, sourced from a The Jam fan club member. To further elevate the nostalgia the swing tag doubles as a keepsake designed to replicate the original gig ticket from the band's last ever gig in Brighton.

Paul Weller’s DIY jumper on The Jam’s famous ‘This is the Modern World’ album cover is referenced with a subtle arrow detailing inside the neckline of the shirt.

“Black and Orange are going to be our colours”

- Paul Weller when The Style Council launched in early 1983

For The Style Council shirt, Admiral have used one of their famous 70s silhouettes with logos repeated down a raised sleeve tape, and a black and orange colourway used repeatedly by the band in the 80s.

The stitched crest design is taken once again from an original 1980s pin badge and features both The Style Council name and a reference to the band’s EP, À Paris. ‘Internationalists’ is used on the front to celebrate the band’s Live Aid performance in 1985, arguably one of the greatest events in music history!

Only 300 of The Jam x Admiral shirts will be available, with each shirt individually numbered on the lower front. Both shirts will launch Monday 8th August 6pm.