Threads of Glory: South Africa’s Football Heritage Reimagined

Football jerseys have become a staple in the modern streetwear wardrobe. Beyond the usual t-shirts, hoodies, and sweaters, the football jersey offers a refreshing take on what constitutes streetwear. Many of these designs draw upon the rich history and culture of various football clubs around the world, celebrating and revitalizing appreciation for these teams and for the sport as a whole.

Kaizer Chiefs recently ended their 10-year drought in league and tournament competitions by winning the 2025 Nedbank Cup Final against their formidable rivals, Orlando Pirates. Lifting the trophy was a joyful moment, but fans were equally impressed by how the team arrived at the stadium in style, dressed in knitted golf shirts inspired by vintage football jerseys. This will undoubtedly go down as an iconic moment in South African football history.

Football roots in South Africa stretch back to the late 19th century, introduced through British colonial influence. As the game spread, it quickly became intertwined with the social and political realities of a divided nation. Under apartheid, Black South Africans were excluded from national sports structures, yet football thrived in the townships. It became a space of resistance and expression, offering both a brief escape from oppression and a powerful tool for unity. In the 1950s and ’60s, teams like Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, and Moroka Swallows emerged, not only as football powerhouses but also as cultural institutions. Their matches drew tens of thousands, even during the darkest days of apartheid, stadiums became sanctuaries where race, class, and politics converged.

These clubs eventually became some of the biggest on the continent. The Soweto Derby (between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates) is now recognized as one of the biggest sporting events in Africa, with an estimated 86,000 in-stadium attendees and approximately 10 million viewers across SuperSport and SABC, according to older reports.

When it comes to merchandise, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are not just football clubs, they’re fashion statements. Kaizer Chiefs, having returned to Kappa’s sleek designs, reportedly outsold Orlando Pirates’ Adidas kits two-to-one during the 2023/24 season, despite not securing any trophies. Priced at R1,200–R1,300, Chiefs’ shirts fly off the shelves, driven by a fan base historically estimated at 16 million. Revenue estimates are tricky, profits are shared with manufacturers and retailers, but with their market dominance, Chiefs could be earning R50–150 million annually from jersey sales alone, a conservative figure based on fan engagement and pricing trends.

Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, are no slouches. Their Adidas home and away kits, retailing at R1,300.00 cater to a loyal fan base of 10–12 million, bolstered by back-to-back Nedbank Cup wins in 2023 and 2024 (Goal.com, 2024). A 2021 X post claimed Pirates earned USD $15.4 million (roughly R270 million today) from various revenue streams, including replica sales. While that figure lacks official confirmation, Pirates’ brand power likely brings in similar jersey revenue, perhaps R50–100 million annually, though Adidas share of profits remains unclear.

In a world where streetwear and heritage walk hand in hand, Kasi Flavour 10, an agency deeply rooted in South African township culture, has electrified the fashion scene by reimagining one of the country’s most iconic symbols: the 1998 Bafana Bafana football jersey. More than just a tribute, this release is a reinvention that blends nostalgia with innovation, sports history with contemporary flair.

To understand the impact of this move, one must appreciate the legacy of the 1996 Bafana Bafana jersey. It wasn’t just a kit, it was the armor worn by the team that won the 1996 African Cup of Nations on home soil and later represented South Africa at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The bold green-and-gold stripes, asymmetrical design, and the national pride it evoked are etched in collective memory. Kasi Flavour 10 saw an opportunity to creatively revive that legacy. A key aspect of the release was a collaboration with local artists and community football clubs. Since its debut, the jersey has been spotted on artists, DJs, and influencers from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

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In 2019, brothers Daneel and Stef Steinmann founded Old School in a Stellenbosch dorm room, driven by their desire to create the perfect vintage South African Rugby jersey. Unable to find a product that blended retro style with modern quality, they shared their idea on social media.

The post went viral, and Old School Rugby Jerseys was born. The brothers designed jerseys that celebrated South Africa’s rugby heritage, featuring classic designs, bold colors, and fits suitable for both match days and casual wear. Their products quickly built a loyal following among rugby fans. By 2021, the company rebranded to Old School™ and expanded its vision to become a global lifestyle brand. Now, Old School targets the modern gentleman and sophisticated sports fan, offering timeless, sports inspired clothing crafted with high quality in mind.

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Old School has since made waves in South African football, collaborating with two of the country’s biggest clubs: Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. In 2025, Old School partnered with Kaizer Chiefs to release a premium apparel collection, including ivory-colored knitted jerseys bearing the club’s name. The collection honors the club’s legacy, blending vintage style with modern elegance and receiving praise for its craftsmanship and attention to history.

Similarly, Old School collaborated with Orlando Pirates to launch a fan jersey collection inspired by the club’s 1980s era. The premium range, offered in long- and short-sleeve options, features 100% high-end fabrics and is designed as a bold fashion statement for dedicated Pirates fans. The collaboration, hailed by Old School as a favorite project, celebrates the club’s rich heritage and has been warmly received. Posts on X reflect strong fan engagement, and Orlando Pirates’ openness to local collaborations is further evidenced by previous partnerships with designers like Rich Mnisi and Thebe Magugu.

In today’s world, sport has become a unifying force that transcends athletics to influence lifestyle and fashion. This opens up exciting opportunities for collaboration between young creatives, entrepreneurs, and corporations, driving growth and adding value across multiple industries. Football t-shirts, once confined to the stadium, have evolved into coveted fashion staples, with demand surging across demographics. Their growing popularity has turned them into highly lucrative products, and for small businesses, this presents a powerful avenue to tap into culture, community, and commerce, elevating local fashion labels and independent designers onto national and even global stages.