Hackney Empire and Hackney Women’s Football Club have unveiled a new football kit celebrating two big east London anniversaries: 125 years of the historic theatre and 40 years of the club. The kit was launched on 22 September 2026 and is now available to pre-order from Wood Street Walls.
The winning design comes from London College of Fashion student Daphne Scotto Di Carlo. It blends material from Hackney Empire’s archive with the identity of Hackney Women’s FC, which is Europe’s longest-running LGBTQIA+ football team.
How the Hackney Empire football kit was designed
The kit came out of a paid student design competition run by Hackney Empire, Wood Street Walls CIC and London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London. Three students were chosen to develop designs, and they visited Hackney Archives to explore historical material for inspiration.
A panel from the college, Wood Street Walls and Hackney Empire, joined by Hackney Women’s FC players, picked Daphne’s design as the winner.
Her kit borrows the typography and print styles of old Hackney Empire playbills and tickets, with nods to the theatre’s famous red seats. It plays on the idea that football and theatre are both places where communities gather to watch a performance. The words “Playing with Pride Since 1986” celebrate the club’s history.
Daphne said: “Inspired by the typography and imagery found in the Hackney Empire archives, as well as Hackney itself, from corner shops and football pitches to everyday street details, the kit aims to embody the character of the area. As a female footballer, I also considered colourways and graphics as a way to give players confidence on the pitch.”
Young creatives behind the campaign
Once the kit was made, a team of Hackney Empire Young Producers art directed the campaign photoshoot with Wood Street Walls’ Mark Clack and photographer Jake Green. The shoot features Hackney Women’s FC players alongside Hackney Empire young artists, on the theatre’s own stage.
Chris Sudworth, CEO of Hackney Empire, said the project captures what the theatre wants its 125th anniversary to stand for: celebrating its history while creating opportunities for the next generation of artists and working with local communities.
Molly Redmond, General Secretary of Hackney Women’s FC, said: “To have our training kit created in collaboration with such an iconic venue is so special, and we’re incredibly proud to wear it. It means a lot to see our club’s LGBTQIA+ history represented through this collaboration.”
About Hackney Women’s FC
Founded in 1986, Hackney Women’s FC works to make football more accessible for women and non-binary players across London. It runs weekly training and matches for all abilities, from advanced to amateur, and has a strong social side too. The club is proudly gay and trans inclusive.
How to pre-order the Hackney Women’s FC x Hackney Empire kit
The collection is available to pre-order on the Wood Street Walls shop. It includes:
- Red jersey, £49.99
- Black jersey, £49.99
- Black shorts, £34.99
- Red shorts, £34.99
Every item is made to order, and delivery takes around two weeks from the date you order. There’s a handy jersey size guide to help you pick the right fit, and you can read the full story behind the kit on the Wood Street Walls blog.
The project was funded and produced by Wood Street Walls CIC, made possible by the North London Waste Alliance, in partnership with London College of Fashion.
