The new England football strip features a design contribution from Peter Saville [via Creative Review].

According to manufacturers Umbro, the new shirt “takes its inspiration from the more formal classic shirts of England’s footballing past. Umbro has developed a new longer, more open neckline for the shirt, building on the square neckline that was designed for the away shirt but allowing additional movement across the chest, keeping its shape especially when a player is running.”

Esteemed graphics genius Saville, best known to music fans for creating the visual identity of Factory Records, has contributed a graphic of multicoloured crosses to the shoulders of the shirt, intended to evoke the basting stitches common to bespoke tailoring, and also to represent the diversity of English society. According to Creative Review, his brief was strictly limited by Umbro: he was asked simply to suggest ways in which colour could be incorporated into the design while keeping it predominantly white.

The new strip will be worn by the England team when they play their friendly against Bulgaria tomorrow. Look out for a forthcoming interview with Saville on the CR site.