About

Passing Pattern was born out of my passion for footy and design. My goal is to use this publication and Passing Pattern as a whole as a platform through which to explore the intersection of both domains.

One aspect I love in particular is football kit design. Anyone who knows me might describe my passion for collecting kits and sniffing them out on the internet as borderline ‘problematic’ but I consider it to be more of a healthy obsession. Though my partner and my friends might tease me for it, they also recognize the passion I have for the art imbued in the shirts.

Beyond the beautiful patterns and careful stitching of crests, there is a lot of baggage that comes along with these kits. Each kit becomes a vessel that is filled throughout the season with each game that’s played in it, by the fans and the players alike. Iconic moments created by players are tied to the kits they were wearing. Every time you pull a kit out of your closet and look at its design it makes you think of a particular moment or player. These kits are imbued with stories. A kit is shared between the fans and the players. The stadium, the matchday, the emotions, the celebrations, the frustrations, and the kits are things that belong to both the fans and players alike. The kit is symbolic of the relationship between the fan and the player. In wearing the kit, they both share a commitment to the team and each other. Both parties hold each other accountable. One wouldn’t exist without the other. The kit is the common denominator in the relationship.

So when you pick up a copy of Passing Pattern or flick through Instagram you can expect stories about beautiful kits and the moments and players that are forever tied to them. Thank you for taking the time to read through my work and joining me on this journey. If you have any thoughts or questions, please reach out to me! Or if you make it out to Chicago with a pair of boots, hopefully, we can share the pitch.

- Alexander Tsanov