The Art of the Jersey book actually started out life as a website (cycling-jersey-collection.com) that the author, Andy Storey, a Prendas Ciclismo employee (best delivery in the game), still runs. So, a book which features over 200 jerseys, belonging to Andy’s personal collection has got to be decent, right?
The book does nae disappoint. The Art of The Jersey should really be made into an exhibition, it’s that good.
Above: 1976 TI-Raleigh Campagnolo Team Wool Jersey
What do we like? Well the commentary to start with. It’s not just the design, the logo, sponsor, colours — of a particular jersey — that’s important to us, but the history that accompanies them. Every jersey is presented on its own and the book describes them without prejudice. The book in general is a long overdue explainer of cycling history from the 1970s onwards, understood through technology, sponsorship and graphic design, rather than all the usual dull clichés of Merkcx and Hinault and the Tour de France. The smaller number of full page photos of said riders and jerseys are superb. Our favourite, the photo of Jan Raas wearing the 1976 TI-Raleigh Campagnolo Team Wool Jersey on Page 21 is too much.
Above: 2015 MTN/Qhubeka/Castelli 2015 Team Jersey
The book is good because it also doesn’t focus solely on the ‘art’ of the jersey, but the craft that goes into their manufacturer. There aren’t many other sports jerseys or kits that can provide such depth of analysis. And the reason is the technology, because the ‘flocking’ technique used on wool jerseys didn’t allow sponsors logos to be displayed until it was replaced by sublimation printing on lycra jerseys in the 1980s. More recent printing techniques have allowed for jerseys to be packaged and sold as a marketing tool for sponsors, and their aesthetic quality has undoubtedly suffered. But this also means cycling jerseys have evolved hugely since the 1950s and it’s not until this is presented chronologically that you really appreciate the vast change that has occurred. Contrast that to the sport as a whole, which is still free to watch live — and offers one of the most authentic spectator experiences going — and there is something quite gloriously shite (and sad) about the jersey evolving from its humble wool origins — with one or two logos — to a fucking hideous billboard for Belgian flooring companies and German supermarkets.
Above: 1985 Belgian National Team Wool Jersey
What else do we like? Well it goes without saying that Andy’s personal taste is pretty decent, and combined with his knowledge of cycling make this an enjoyable read. We fucking hate Buzzfeed and their Top 10 blah blah blah shite, and this book presents every jersey equally and without prejudice across the 200-odd pages in chronological order. Which is a great way of understanding the material developments over time that dictated the design of the jersey, by the way. The book doesn’t classify what’s good or bad, rather letting you decide yourself, which is particularly refreshing.
Above: 1981 Reynolds/Galli/Santini 1981 Wool Team Jersey
It would be unrealistic to expect that every cycling jersey that ever existed was included, but there are some notable omissions including FDJ, Cofidis, Phonak, Astana, BMC and Phonak, to name but a few. (And specifically the 1981 Reynolds/Galli/Santini 1981 Wool Team Jersey (swoons) which is included on Andy’s blog, but omitted from the book, and is our favourite jersey everrr). There are also far too many versions of the Giro d’Italia leader’s jerseys for us, and no shorts at all… But whatever, this is a really good book, which should be made into an exhibition in the future.
Dip into ya pocket.
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