From Sketchpad to Shirt: The Making of Our First Drop
Some ideas live in your head for years before they make it out into the world. Fabric of the Game has been one of those ideas - born from a lifetime of obsession with design, football, and the way they collide with music, art, and culture.
From an early age, I was drawing my favourite footballers: Big Dunc, Cantona, Bergkamp, Andy Cole, Kanchelskis. I wasn’t just sketching shirts - I was sketching moments. Football has always been more than a game to me; it’s folklore. It’s passed down in stories, chants, and the kind of memories that you don't find on Match of the Day. That’s what Fabric of the Game is really about: the unspoken, the unsaid, and the unforgettable.
The Design Process: Enter Cantona Kai
Most of my design work starts digitally. I might sketch occasionally, but my brain works best when I jump into Photoshop and chase ideas in real time. Sometimes inspiration comes from a song. Sometimes it’s a throwaway comment, or a bit of art completely unrelated to football. But once I get going, the pieces usually fall into place.
The very first design we made was Cantona Kai. It’s been in my head for years - a reimagining of Eric Cantona as a sort of mystical karate master, forged in the aftermath of that kung fu kick at Selhurst Park. The idea was simple: what if Cantona joined the world of The Karate Kid?
The result? Cantona Kai - the ultimate karate system. The only catch? You’ve got to fight in football boots. Not ideal when you hit the dojo, but that's the way of the Cantona Kai.
It’s cheeky, nostalgic, and taps into one of football’s most surreal moments. That’s exactly the tone we want this brand to carry - designs that make you smile, nod in recognition, and maybe even spark a conversation.
Sustainability, One Shirt at a Time
We don’t come from a fashion background. That’s probably a good thing.
From the beginning, we knew one thing: we didn’t want piles of unsold stock sitting around. Every item from Fabric of the Game is made to order - less waste, better quality, more conscious decisions.
We chose fabrics based on feel and durability, because while the designs should be fun and unique, the quality should still stand up to real life. Long-term, we’re looking at how we can give back more. We’ve been inspired by brands like Passenger, who plant trees with every order, and we want to bring that kind of thinking into football merch. The game can do better when it comes to sustainability - and we plan to be part of that shift.
The First Drop
We think our first collections - Disobey, Eras, and Who Are Ya? - say everything you need to know about who we are. They're playful, full of football folklore, and designed by fans, for fans. They nod to iconic moments, cult characters, and everything that happens outside of the 90 minutes.
Because this brand isn’t about kits — it’s about culture.
It’s about that feeling when the ball hits the net and time stands still.
It’s about the mischief, the memories, and the mythology.
It’s about the Fabric of the Game.