Picture the scene: you’re sipping an espresso at your favourite post-ride cafe spot, sweat-soaked skin glistening in the midday sun.
The missing part of the puzzle? This new collab between Italian cycling kit brand Castelli and 19-time Serie A champions AC Milan.
Both may be Italian, but the connection between the two extends beyond a tenuous marketing hook-up.
Castelli’s roots can be traced back to 1876, when Vittore Gianni began creating specialist sports clothing from his Milanese store.
Gianni went on to make cycling kit for three-time world champion and five-time Giro d’Italia winner Alfredo Binda during the 1920s, and produced kit for AC Milan during this time, too (Gianni’s clients also included another Italian football giant, Juventus).
Castelli has now made its first range of cycling kit for AC Milan, with three jerseys and a single pair of bib shorts, plus a range of accessories.
The ‘Home jersey’ is a simple take on Milan’s iconic red and black stripes. It’s a delightfully simple affair that will delight retro-kit-hunting hipsters the world over. And I want it.
Meanwhile, the ‘Away jersey’ is said to celebrate the club’s seven UEFA Champions League triumphs.
There’s also a ‘Special edition jersey’, designed, according to Castelli, to mark the 125th anniversary of AC Milan. It’s an abstract red and black number with gold accents.
The shorts are an all-black affair, with ‘Milan Est. 1899’ printed on the leg gripper.
If you want the complete look, Castelli will also offer red-and-black-themed mitts, socks and a neck warmer.
The range is priced as follows:
- Jerseys (each): €89.95 / £95 / $119.99
- Bib shorts: €109.95 / £120 / $149.99
- Gloves: €39.95 / £45 / $59.99
- Socks: €17,95 / £19 / $24.99
- Neck warmer: €22.95 / £25 / $27.99
