People come to football in all different ways and for different reasons; growing up in a sports family, kicking a ball around the playground at break, finding inspiration in heroes like Alex Scott, or discovering it later on in life as a joyous and safe space. But no matter what the journey is, once you’ve made it, you’re welcomed into a new family, a community where you all care about the same players and hope for the same things, experience the same heartbreaks and celebrate the same triumphs. At its best, football is a force of unity that brings us all together. 

When it comes to women’s football, this sense of community has always been particularly strong. And though in the last six years, the number of women and girls playing and watching football has seen huge growth in popularity, the spirit of the community has remained the same: tight-knit, supportive, inclusive and passionate. Alongside this camaraderie, the community has become known for its individuality, originality and freedom of self-expression for both its players and fans. Fashion has always been an instant way to signal your likes, loyalties and mood, and wearing your football colours, whether that’s club or country, is guaranteed to help you find your people.    

Earlier this year, Nike and the Lionesses unveiled the new England Women’s National Team kits for this summer’s tournament. With its classic white base as the starting point, the home kit this year taps into nostalgia by reworking colour to honour the pioneers of the national team playing through the 70s and 80s. Subtle details like the thorn on the jersey number and the inner-pride logo with the beloved English rose infuse the kit with tradition and meaning.

The away kit, meanwhile, takes a bolder approach with its predominantly black strip – a first for England. Darker shorts for both kits respond to calls from the players to take into consideration potential period leaks, an important step from Nike in tailoring designs and apparel technology towards the specific needs of female athletes. 

Last weekend, we got to see the kits in action as the team tested it out in a friendly against Jamaica. The kits weren’t the only thing putting in the work on the field; England put away seven goals over the course of the 90 minutes. Now, five fans tell Dazed about what makes the women’s football community so special, how they incorporate football into their everyday style and why the Nike T90s are so close to their hearts.

Raphaelle Moore

3 words to describe the women’s football community?

Creative, inclusive and progressive. I work at Fashion East which is all about supporting emerging talent, and it’s that mindset of backing someone early and giving them a platform. It’s very similar in football. I’ve played grassroots football for years and worked with Chelsea on lots of creative projects, and it’s a way of bringing people together that’s very real and practical.

A moment you knew you were a part of something special?

Definitely the last Euros tournament. It was just so huge. You could visibly see the change happening in front of your eyes – so many more fans and so much more support and brand endorsements. The players were everywhere, in the back of the paper and in adverts. It just really felt like a huge moment and that things were starting to positively change. It was a really clear example of what the women’s game can be if it’s given the right platform.

How do you incorporate football aesthetics into your everyday style?

Boots! I love the new Nike T90s. They are so good if you’re in the park in summer, people are playing a little football match, the ball rolls over and they say, ‘Can you kick the ball back?’ You’d absolutely hoof it back. No problem. 

There’s a lot of fashion brands now that have a heavy football aesthetic, like Martine Rose. The trousers that I’m wearing today, these are Martine. She’s a Fashion East alumni, and she did that special Lost Lionesses kit with Nike. Such a huge moment. She’s such a good crossover between football and fashion. Jawara Alleyne, another Fashion East alumni, reworks items like vintage shirts. There’s people that turn a football shirt into a corset or a scrunchie and are having fun with it like that. There’s so many brands like that now, so it's very easy and fun to mix football and fashion together.

Lil C

How long have you followed women’s football?

I’ve supported football for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, at the tender age of six or seven, Bend It Like Beckham came out. Without sounding too dramatic, it just changed my life. I already was very dialed into playing football at school and enjoying watching the men’s game. My mum is a huge football fan, so it came through her. But Bend It Like Beckham was like, ‘Oh, this is something that’s for us.’ It was something that I could really resonate with. Soon after, I remember watching some women’s matches. Alex Scott was really, really young, and they started putting a little bit more focus and attention towards women’s football. Then the 2019 World Cup really took it into the next stratosphere.

A moment you knew you were a part of something special?

I really loved playing football as a kid, although I was very bad, and usually I was the only girl playing with all the boys, which I think is a really common thing for girls who grew up playing football. I begged my mom to let me go to a week long summer football camp. It was majority boys, but there was one other girl who was there, and it is still seared into my childhood memories of how joyous it was to have connection with this other person. We became best friends for the week. Among the handful of girls who were there there was this unity and camaraderie of: we love this thing, and we’re having this shared experience. That was a beautiful thing that I got to experience, I still think about it all the time.

And in more recent years, I just think the grassroots football teams that are emerging. I live in London, so Whippets, Romance, Baes FC, Brockwell Bullets, Dinamo Footwork. It's just really fun and really pure and a really nice way to meet new people. In my adult life, I think the most joyous moments I've had have been turning up to little tournaments just to kick a ball about and have little moments of connection.

What is your favorite way to style a football jersey outside of match day?

The best way for me to style a footy shirt. I DJ – DJing is a sweaty affair. So I love wearing a football shirt to the club when I’m working, because I can sweat into it and it doesn’t feel gross. It’s almost an athletic activity, dancing and going out to a club, so I wear it to work because it’s very practical and it looks great.

As someone who has worn sports clothing from the day I was allowed to dress myself, I don’t know what my style is if I haven’t got some level of sporting attire at some point. Every day I’m in the footy kit, every day I could be wearing my Astros. So the football boots summer that’s happening now, I feel justified. The T90s are a practical way to get to play football at any moment of any day. So I can go to work and then have a cheeky little five-a-side at lunch time, and I don't have to change my shoes. Bang a couple goals, back to emails, run around like a little dog.

Amy Spalding

3 words to describe the community?

Inspiring, joyful and – for me and my story – queer.

How long have you followed women’s football?

I was introduced to it later in life – I’m a late in life football fan at 26! We didn’t play at school and growing up, we weren’t a football fan family. But it was when I found my queer community and moved to London that it became a massive thing. It was something to do with the group on a Sunday, we’d go watch a game. It was a real community. I’ve just joined a football team, we started one. I’m not good, I’ve yet to play a game! But I’ve joined and it’s a really great, uplifting environment.

Favourite memory of watching the Lionesses?

Yeah Chloe Kelly! The last Euros. I was with all my mates at the pub, could not believe it. And then taking the top off was just iconic and everything that women’s football is for and gender equality. It was like, diva boots!

What is your favorite way to style a football jersey outside of match day?

Football jerseys are having a moment and I love it. Definitely with a shirt underneath. Maybe a tie, silver jewellery to accessorise it, shorts. It’s the contrast of the casual with the formal, I love playing with those two narratives. Scarves, vintage football hats, vintage shirts.

Mahalia John

Favourite memory of watching the Lionesses?

I have so many but the best one is I was at the Euros final in 2022. I was row 10 behind the goal, and I basically didn’t breathe for 120 minutes. And then when they lifted the trophy, I just burst into tears. Just talking about it, I’m getting full body chills. 

We had been pushing this game for years and been saying for years that people don’t care who's playing the football, people will watch football as long as it’s accessible. So being there and seeing the accumulation of all this pushing and all this work, and then for us to win the tournament at home, it was one of the most magical moments of my entire life [at this point Mahalia has actual goosebumps].

What is your favorite way to style a football jersey outside of match day?

In terms of styling, it’s more of a feeling, I pick the one that makes me feel good that day. There’s something about wearing a football shirt out in the world, you get strangers talking to you because you’re wearing the shirt, you have this thing in common. I work in film and it’s a very male-dominated environment. Turning up in a football shirt, instantly you have something to chat about, you can take the piss out of each other. There tends to be a healthy respect, even if you all support different teams, there’s still a thing we all love.

A moment you knew you were a part of something special?

I play for a team that has given me my two best friends. We play in a league that was specifically created because a lot of grassroots leagues are quite transphobic, and it’s a safe space for everyone, this queer football community. For some people, it’s a lifeline. Every week, it’s the same routine, it’s a safe space. These are my friends. This is my community. And we got all that through a sport.

3 words to describe the community?

In my experience: very, very gay.

Maxine Williams

Favourite memory of watching the Lionesses?

Probably the last Euros. I just think that team was so special. I think we forget, because of the quick change in women’s football, that a lot of these women weren’t able to play professionally for ages. A lot of them weren’t able to support themselves and have this be their full time job, and the fact that some of them are now able to do that is a huge achievement. So I would say just getting to watch them. Every time I watch them. I really admire their mentality and the strength they have. They are a force.

A moment you knew you were a part of something special?

The last year getting to work in football, it’s been a real testament to everyone who’s come before me, especially the Black women who are older than me because they get a lot of shit constantly, and they continually put themselves out there. That has given me the space to be myself within women’s football.

I’ve made a lot of female friends who only love women's football, and I think that's such a special thing because they have a very unique way of looking at the game and how match days should be. For such a long time I felt like I wasn’t respected in football, because I might like to have a full face beat. Here I can turn up to games and no one’s questioning whether I’m a fan or not. It’s this space that we've created for ourselves.

How do you incorporate football aesthetics into your everyday style?

Shoes are definitely a big part. I love a football-inspired trainer. The link between fashion football is finally being understood. So now I can find designers or people who are reworking old jerseys. I try to make it a bit different and also show my personality, sometimes I dress more feminine, sometimes I lean more masc. I think the reason why I personally love collecting football shirts is because they are such a great way to show community. When I see people on the street and they’ve got my club’s shirt on, or if I’m abroad and you see the England shirts, it’s like a signal. I really like that.

The latest Nike England collection is available now, visit Nike.com to purchase.