Philippines' Warm Embrace of the UK's 'Bloke core' Aesthetic
Bloke core’s distinction as a European football dad’s best friend manages a front-and-center spectacle among today’s fashion trends. Reminiscent of memories of spectating from the grandstand or cheering on their team at a local pub, they proudly wear their club’s crest on their chest in victory or defeat.
Over The Pitch’s P x PSG 1997 Collection
Filipinos share an unparalleled love for the sport over 10,500 kilometers away. They embrace the language on the pitch whether on television or through their ensembles—dating back to the early 70s-80s Hooligan culture, Grime music scene, and the "Casuals" subculture.
A trend birthed decades past doesn’t appear to falter as we tackle its origins, what consists of a “Bloke core” look, and how local brands champion this timeless culture off the pitch.
What constitutes Bloke core?
What was initially decades' worth of undying football fandom attained virality in late 2021 with American content creator Brandon Huntley coining the term Bloke core through his football-driven aesthetic. A playful take to the British equivalent to “bro” or “dude,” his outfits stepped onto #FashionTok in April 2022, spuing with pandemic-like properties as the “Hottest Trend of 2022.”
Huntley’s “reimagination” (if you’d call it) consists of rummaging through your father or tito’s wardrobe for a uniform that probably dates back decades. According to the bloke core blueprint, the look resurrects vintage football uniforms, especially from British Second Division Clubs, basic denim pants, and the ever-so-popular-arguable-favorite-sneaker-of-the-world-in-2023, the Adidas Samba.
Bloke core in the Present
Over The Pitch’s P x Red Devils 1994 Collection
Aime Leon Dore SS23 Team Soccer Jersey
Two years after its resurrection and the quadrennial FIFA World Cup, Bloke core continues aging like fine wine, managing a permanent closet space status. Its influence remains unyielding, going toe-to-toe with today’s best, despite possibly incurring a slowdown in popularity.
Bloke core has evolved from its original football kit-denim jeans-Adidas Samba distinction, taking on slight modifications, yet staying true to its original flavor. While the element of a football kit remains (whether classic, modern, or even American football and baseball jerseys at times), there appears to be a variety of bottoms, ushering a combination of jorts, trousers, cargos, slacks, dresses, and even skirts. I would even argue at times that it transcends its “casual” aesthetic and leans towards a more “preppy” vibe with hints of sophistication.
Moving on to footwear, if you don’t own a pair of the Adidas Samba in 2024, don’t fret, as terrace trainer alternatives make headway in the present. Given the pair’s football heritage significance, the Three Stripes’ Gazelle, Handball Spezial, and SL72 are probable front runners of the German icon. However, the Dassler blood runs thick on the field as the design of PUMA’s Palermo, Easy Rider, and Roma 24 models don’t stray too far from the pack.
Converse’s newly introduced Run Star Trainer, Onitsuka Tiger fan-favorite Mexico 66, New Balance’s 574s, and Superga’s Classic 2750 silhouettes will do the trick. Anything low profile and foot conforming.
Philippin-ized Bloke core
Scouring for the perfect kit to rep, local fashion brands draw inspiration from their Western counterparts through their proudly made renditions. Whether through the piece’s creative structure, branding, or influence, the world’s favorite sport seeps onto the Philippines’ sandy shores with a presence bound to stay.
From witnessing Sarina Bolden’s FIFA World Cup 2023 header against New Zealand to the program’s development in the present, football and Bloke core doesn’t appear to be a language predominantly in English or Spanish, as Filipino takes part in the sport’s smooth sailing currents.
