The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United will be decided this Saturday and to celebrate, the Football Association (or FA, as it’s more commonly known) has enlisted an exciting lineup of up-and-coming London creatives to reimagine the famous trophy icon as part of a content series.
MOBO nominee and British rapper Yungen, creative and presenter Poet, YouTubers Theo Baker and Reev, and radio presenter Rebecca Judd—jointly known as the #CupCollective—have put their heads together bring the icon of the Emirates FA Cup trophy to life as part of the “Icon Series.” An exclusive collection of art and fashion pieces, the “Icon Series” is a celebration of the iconic trophy inspired by a new generation of fans. Alongside collaborative product releases, the #CupCollective has brought onboard renowned street artists Graffiti Kings to produce an Emirates FA Cup trophy-inspired mural as well as up-and-coming animator Elena Gumeniuk to create a unique animated journey interpretation of the world-renowned tournament.
On the fashion front, Rebecca Judd and Poet have each designed bespoke pairs of Emirates FA Cup-inspired Nike Air Force 1s informed by their own experiences with the iconic tournament. “I wanted them to look as close to the trainer form of the Emirates FA Cup as possible, from the silver swoosh and grass printed soles to the past champions printed on the side panel to mirror those engraved on the Cup,” explains Poet. Judd’s claret and blue accents, on the other hand, allude to her being a long term West Ham United supporter. Only ten pairs of each limited edition design will be created.
Poet also put his designer hat on for a limited range of Nike t-shirts. A dedicated Arsenal FC fan, Poet’s final design features 13 Emirates FA Cup silhouettes on the front—representing the 13 times Arsenal has lifted the trophy—and the number 14 on the back, alluding to the shirt worn by Alex James when he played a crucial role in Arsenal’s first ever FA Cup victory in 1930.
Known for their murals and live installations, Graffiti Kings has reimagined the familiar Emirates FA Cup trophy silhouette in the form of a mural. Inspired by all 737 teams that took part in this year’s competition, the street artists combined team colors and kit designs as a nod to the Emirates FA Cup’s inclusivity.
Dubbed the “illustrator of the London grime scene,” Ukrainian-born Elena Gumeniuk has previously brought to life music videos for the likes of the Godfather Wiley, new-school icon AJ Tracey, and grime collective 67. Now, Gumeniuk has turned her hand to an animated short representing her personal interpretation of the iconic tournament and trophy. “I was excited to combine the world of football with my style, creating an animation that would capture the fans’ different relationships with the competition,” explains Elena Gumeniuk. “From the teenager gaming in his bedroom to watching the early rounds on TV, playing with their mates in the park through to attending the Final at Wembley Stadium and cheering on their favorite player.”
The Emirates FA Cup Final goes down on Saturday, May 19, 5:15 p.m. BST. Check out the Nike Air Force 1s, t-shirts, mural, and animated short above. For a chance at winning some last minute tickets to the game as well as a pair of the highly limited AF1s, check out the Instagram post below.
