Brothers & Sisters Launch Nike Football Shirt Made from Fabric That Survived the Grenfell Fire

Brothers & Sisters, the creative agency of Grenfell Athletic, has today launched a biographical football shirt as they reveal Nike’s latest strip for the club.

A powerful film entitled Fabric of the Community, directed by Ashley Francis-Roy from Missing Link Films, has gone live across social media unveiling the club’s latest set of Nike kits. Each shirt includes a bespoke cut of fabric surrounding the club badge, donated by a member of the community who has a connection with Grenfell, with some garments donated being those worn by survivors the night of their escape from the fire.

And, using state of the art NFC technology, each shirt’s badge contains a chip that enables fans to digitally interact with the kit. When scanned with a smartphone a chip inside the badge links to a touching storytelling video relating to that shirt’s donated fabric.

Perhaps most poignant is the fabric associated with Nick Burton, a former Grenfell Tower resident who donated the shirt he was wearing on the night he and his wife were rescued from the 19th floor of the tower. His wife later died in hospital and became the fire’s last fatality.

Of the 30 different fabric patches that have been donated, four are from garments worn by survivors on the night of their escape from the fire. Another is from a firefighter who was inspired to join the London Fire Brigade after witnessing the horrors of June 14 2017.

Among other donors is former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson, who gave one of his treasured Doncaster Rovers shirts in solidarity with those affected by the Grenfell tragedy, and former Arsenal player Héctor Bellerín, who continues his support for Grenfell having previously pledged over £19,000 to support victims in the aftermath of the fire.

Seven years on from the tragedy, which claimed 72 lives and left countless people injured, traumatised or displaced, Brothers and Sisters continues to devise new ways to ensure the people of Grenfell are not only remembered but supported.

Andy Fowler, founder and ECD of Brothers & Sisters, is a trustee of Grenfell Athletic. He said: “The shirt is a living and breathing historical storytelling device that uses technology to unlock deeply intimate, personal stories from this very special community.

“That Nick would donate the shirt he wore when he and his wife escaped the fire is mind-blowing. Storytelling is such a powerful device and we are humbled that these people have committed to sharing their stories.”

Rupert Taylor, founder of Grenfell Athletic, said: “Our club was born out of a desire to heal and bring our community ever closer through the power of football. We’re so thankful for every person who donated their fabrics and bravely shared their stories, and we hope the project offers an additional avenue for healing and a platform for showing how inspirational our community truly is. The hearts and souls of the people of Grenfell are woven into Grenfell Athletic’s DNA, and now they’ll be woven into the club’s shirts, too.”

To support Grenfell Athletic’s journey and own the incredible new 2024/25 home shirt, you can now purchase at Kitlocker via: https://www.kitlocker.com/grenfellathleticfc/