Football fashion icon Héctor Bellerín links up with H&M

Picking up where David Beckham and his silk sarong left off, Héctor Bellerín has come to be known as the most fashion-forward footballer in the game right now. A regular fixture on the front row at London Fashion Week, the Arsenal defender even appeared on the runway at Virgil Abloh’s SS20 Louis Vuitton show. 

Now, Bellerín has gone one step further, and announced he is joining forces with H&M on a new capsule collection. Set to launch later this month, the line is made up of oversized cotton shirts, understated parkas, graphic sweatshirts, and one particularly boxy, 90s-esque blazer – basically, it’s a far cry from the jeans and sheux plenty of players continue to rock in 2021 despite having the kind of behemoth salaries that could afford them shopping sprees at The Row without making a dent.

“I wanted (the collection) to feel comfortable and light and the earthy colours are inspired by nature,” Bellerín explained of the offering. “During quarantine I spent a lot of time outdoors and I’d often go for a walk and be inspired by the plant patterns.” For further inspiration, he dipped into his own wardrobe, which, if his fashion week appearances are anything to go by, is filled with pieces by Burberry, Martine Rose, LV, and more. 

Sustainability was also a key focus for the footballer, because for him “there can be no other way”. “We should not put our creative freedom or greed first when there are many other ways – even though they might be more difficult or expensive to achieve – that enable us to create the same product,” he explained in a statement. With this in mind, much of the new collection is crafted from recycled and reappropriated fabrics. 

Bellerín isn’t the only footballer forging bonds with fashion, though. In November, Marcus Rashford joined forces with Burberry on an initiative to offer vulnerable children free school meals when the government failed miserably to do so, with the British label later paying tribute to him through a mural created by artist Jazz Grant.

The collection lands in store and online on February 18, check it out in the gallery above.