THE DRILL

INTERview: Escapismo, Issue Two

SO, HOW DID FOURTEEN ADMIRALS START AND WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME?

Hello!

The two of us met around 2005 through mutual mates. As we got to know each other more, we realised we shared the same admiration and odd knowledge of the more off-centre things in football, design and sportswear - 80's/90's sponsors, adverts, brands, shirt details...some of the stuff we'd talk about some folk would probably think we were lunatics - or boring bastards - maybe both.

So the idea came around one day having a talk about 'wouldn't that be good...' which is a pub discussion everyone must have at some point who’s into clothes, so we just decided to get something going.

I'm always fascinated by names so I'll not say exactly where it’s from - we like it cos it could be many things - we've been told it sounds like a band, a bar, a gang, a record label - so that's cool - plus it just looks good written down, which is the main thing for any name.

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WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE BRAND AND WHAT DO YOU TRY TO CAPTURE THROUGH YOUR DESIGNS?

For a start we're very influenced, there's no point trying to come across any different - it’s the iconography thats the main reference, that’s the connection - I suppose it's trying to put across our inspiration without being too obvious. There's a defining lineage that the culture seems to draw from. There's always gonna be the people and labels that do the re-issues, and they do them so well, so we take a different angle on our version of it.

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THE BRAND HAS PROVED TO BE REALLY POPULAR SO FAR. HOW DOES THIS FEEL?

We've had a smart reception, yes! We could be always a bit more popular like, so keep it coming! It's still early for us so it’s class when people give good reaction and get the stuff. We've sold as much overseas as we have here, so people are still searching. The vital thing for us is it’s enjoyable and constant - we've just moved into a new premises and at the minute it’s like stepping into a sort of romantic setting! Obviously this won't last and I wouldn't want it to. You can only stand admiring the Italia '90 Subbuteo set for so long...

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I LOVE HOW THE DESIGNS ARE SO SUBTLE BUT THE RELATIONSHIP TO FOOTBALL IS SO EASY TO RECOGNISE. HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK IN TERMS OF INTRODUCING NEW IDEAS FOR THE TEES AND SWEATS?

It’s all pretty instinctive with the ideas really. It comes quite quickly as our taste is very similar, then it’s just about delivery. The Oranje one for example was purely on the weight of the word - we'd wanted to do a Cruyff / Netherlands theme, just for us really - I'd been reading 'The Brilliant Orange' by David Winner and in the book, his writing about the ‘74 squad is amazing - they were famously mavericks, a very slick set - so it was just obvious - ORANJE - no fuckin around - the weight of it,  but the design came out looking more like a ‘90's record label logo, which again is the aim. Others, such as EDWARDIA, we've used direct influences…cos talent borrows but genius steals!

Our STNDL tee pays homage to the greatest band tee of my generation, which we were reluctant to do, but we were in such a champion mood after our club’s promotion season, we felt a bit loved up…then made a violent t-shirt to celebrate!

A beautiful thing also was our Andrew Weatherall stickers, which we gave away for free in tribute to him. The reaction and stories people were telling us was really touching and we must’ve posted out 250 sticker sets.

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THE LOVE, LIFE & ITALIA ‘90 PIECE ALREADY FEELS LIKE A BIT OF A CLASSIC. THERE IS A REAL SENSE OF NOSTALGIA THAT SURROUNDS THAT TOURNAMENT, EVEN FOR THOSE OF US WHO WEREN’T EVEN BORN WHEN IT WAS PLAYED. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS THAT MAKES THAT WORLD CUP SO INTERESTING? 

Italia '90 seems to be a universal thing to many - it almost seems like the first World Cup that created its own culture. Being our generation’s first view of any world football, all we really had was Eurosport -  I think because it was before players were becoming superstars and football went with the big money and glitz - so it's relatable in some way. For me, up until then, I'd been going to Oakwell for 2 years since I was 8 and had never really seen sunshine at a game - so Italia '90 covered everything - the slogans, the players looked so different, so many characters, so Claudio Cannigia became my hero. The Adidas kits alone are a subject of astonishment - pure art! That World Cup, everything seemed to burst in colour. Obviously England’s story alone is one that stands up as a tale of glory.

For people discovering '90 afterwards - we had the best player in the world in 1990, something that hasn't happened since and probably never will. Add to that the music, the fashion, the cultural movement versus the state of the country, as well as the darker side of the World Cup; the corruption, the violence, set against this vivid and dramatic competition - it just makes for an incredible and pivotal moment in history. You speak to people around our age about youth and its seems to always end up back at Italia '90.

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WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

We just want to carry on putting out things that form a certain identity - which I hope we're on track with already with our output. We've been offered 2 collaborations from people (both of whom we have much respect), so we'll look at that soon once we get the right idea. It’s cool finding people who speak the same language and are keen to support - so we're always open to collaboration.

We've spoken to a non-league club about some involvement in their visuals and teamwear and we're launching our 'Athletik Klub 14' collection next month - which is series of sporting pieces and collectables that, as collectors also, we've built up over years. Some will be for sale, some for shoots, prints or to be worked into designs. We may also move away from the football themes for some pieces - we have a summer range in the process thats more influenced by an era or social situation rather than a specific thing. Other than that, just keep on producing our own work, carry on the hope that Barnsley FC return to an Umbro kit…

As a wise, too sussed man once said: “You'll never get us while we've got feet.”

You can get Issue Two of Escapismo from selected stockists or via their website at www.escapismo.co.uk