Manchester United, adidas and the Stone Roses are fusing football, fashion and music inspired by the iconic ‘Madchester’ era in a new collaboration.
At the heart of the collection is the Manchester United x Stone Roses Originals Icon Jersey, a tribute to the cover of The Stone Roses’ self-titled debut album, released in 1989.
The bold and unmistakable design, crafted by guitarist John Squire, adorns the jersey with the red, white and blue adidas three stripes on the sleeves and the golden lettering of ‘The Stone Roses’ inside the collar.
The Manchester United crest is creatively adapted, featuring the words ‘This is the One’ and two lemon slices replacing footballs on either side. The signature adidas trefoil in red completes the look.
The lifestyle component of the collection boasts a black tracksuit, black shorts, long-sleeve t-shirt, scarf and the quintessential bucket hat – all featuring the adapted United badge and the Stone Roses lemons.
The on-pitch representation includes a pre-match jersey and reversible anthem jacket, meanwhile.
“The Stone Roses’ music is the soundtrack for fans who remember the famous class of ’92,” commented Inigo Turner, design director at adidas. “This collection celebrates the beautiful fusion of football and musical culture that both the team and the band represented.”
James Holroyd, chief commercial development officer at Manchester United, highlighted the deep connection between The Stone Roses and the club’s fan culture: “This collection recognises our joint histories in a way that connects with both older fans and the new generation of supporters.”
To mark the launch, current players from the men’s and women’s teams participated in a photo shoot, paying homage to portraits of the Stone Roses, while a short film – Roses are Red – features players, legends and fans showcasing the collection and highlighting what the anthem means to them.
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