Football and Fashion Walk Hand in Hand
Football and fashion came together in a big way at New Zealand Fashion Week this afternoon (August 28), with Auckland FC, alongside New Balance, using the event to launch their new home and away jerseys for the 25/26 season.
From nostalgic, street style, to summer essential, football shirts have become a must-have wardrobe item, so fitting was it that Auckland’s most disruptive sports team chose New Zealand Fashion Week to launch its latest look in front of more than 240 onlookers at SOUL Bar & Bistro.
There were more than just the new jerseys on display here. The club, together with New Balance, partnered with Whitecliffe College fashion students to design several unique pieces that transformed kit fabrics into distinctive statement pieces, while positioning the new jersey as the hero styling element in every look. Discover more about each piece and the student who created it here.
And the surprises didn’t stop there. Breaking sporting codes and fashion modes, stars of rugby, football, netball, and cricket united as catwalk models. Auckland FC goalkeeper Joe Knowles, and forward Liam Gillion both walked. As did other amazing code-crossing athletes, including Jimmy Neesham, cricketer and former Black Cap; Courtney Tairi, award-winning sports presenter and former Silver Fern; Greer Sinclair, midcourter for the Stars netball team, plus former Football Fern and Wellington Phoenix Player, Emma Rolston. Ex-All Black Carlos Spencer also made an appearance on the runway, as did World Cup winner and AFC owner, Ali Williams.
Hear what the club, New Balance, plus a couple of code-crossing models had to say at the bottom.
All in for Auckland
This season’s home and away jerseys are once again expected to be incredibly popular, uniting communities both young and old across Auckland and beyond. For that reason, fans can expect a step-up in fit and quality.
Both the Auckland FC 25/26 ALM Player Replica Home and Away Jerseys feature a semi-fitted cut, designed for fans and off-field wear.
The home jersey features parallel pairs of electric blue pinstripes running the length of the jersey, set against a deep black base. The collar and sleeve cuff come with contrasting white ribbed detailing, accented in electric blue. The overall effect is a smart, sophisticated evolution from last season’s jersey.
For those games when the team are not playing at Go Media stadium, there is a crisp white away jersey, overlaid with a subtle grey diagonal stripe motif. It includes a gold sleeve cuff and a gold traditional button-down collar with a soft black edge to balance the palette.
Both kits feature a gold inscription of our rallying mantra inside the collar, “Always Advance, Never Retreat”. A quiet but powerful reminder of who we are and what unites us as Black Knights.
Both jerseys are available from the club shop now. The adult shirt starts at $130 and the youth at $120. Shop here.
One Kit, Two Fits
Last season, the club wasn’t as generous in its sizing as it perhaps could have been. This often resulted in fans wearing a size several times larger than what they would usually take.
To rectify this, this year the Auckland FC 25/26 ALM Home Jersey comes in two distinct cuts, Player Replica and Player Elite. It’s one kit, but in two fits.
The Player Elite Home is the exact jersey worn by the players on the field and features a few subtle differences when compared to the Player Replica Home. The Player Replica Home kit also comes in women’s fit.
This means if purchasing the Player Replica Home (or Away), the club advises fans to go with their usual top size, particularly if wanting a slightly looser fit. If purchasing a Player Elite Home jersey, note these are a tighter fit and run similar in sizing to last season.
Sponsors: ANZ Steps up as Major Sponsor
Another distinct change on this season’s jersey is the front of shirt sponsor, with ANZ now leading the charge and taking pride of place in the centre of the kit.
Having supported AFC since day one, ANZ’s elevated commitment reflects a shared vision with the club: to build pride in New Zealand’s largest city and grow the game from grassroots to elite levels. Now as Major Sponsor, ANZ becomes a strategic partner which also includes the main supporter of the women’s team and community initiatives through to 2028.
The reverse now features dairy brand Anchor. The iconic Kiwi brand and Principal Partner is also extending its partnership with AFC through to 2028. That means three more seasons of fuelling players and fans with the goodness of real dairy and the joy of the beautiful game.
Principal Partners McDonald’s and Alvarium take up their usual positions on each sleeve.
Buy Online or at Asuwere
Auckland FC’s new home and away jerseys, as well as a collection of additional Cupra-sponsored training kits, are now available exclusively on the Auckland FC website for the next three days.
For eager fans not keen on waiting for the delivery van, the club will be hosting a pop-up at Asuwere on Ponsonby Road. Running for three days starting tomorrow (August 29), fans will be able to check out, try on, and buy the new jerseys and training kit. The Asuewere x Auckland FC pop-up will be open Friday 12pm-4pm, Saturday, 10am-4pm, and Sunday, 11am-3pm.
Additional retailers will be stocking the kit from Monday, September 1, onwards.
AFC at NZFW: The Verdict
Anna Mowbray, Auckland FC Owner
“This was a fantastic show that put Auckland at the forefront of football fashion and lived up to our ambition of doing things differently when it comes to sport.
“It was a show built on a coming together and collaboration, from our code-crossing athlete models and guests, to the incredible work and continued support of our partners at New Balance.
“I want to also acknowledge the collaboration and skill of the students at Whitecliffe College who, together with stylist and art director Makaria Lee, have created and styled these looks that featured on the runway today.
“Thank you to everyone to came to check out this cultural coming together of football and fashion, and of course, thank you to our sponsors, partners, including Major Sponsor ANZ, SOUL Bar & Bistro, and New Zealand Fashion Week.”
Jess Wallace, New Balance New Zealand
“A huge thank you to everyone who came out to SOUL Bar & Bistro for Auckland FC Kit Couture. It was great to see all our community and partners alongside athletes coming together to make this happen. Football and fashion celebrated in a unique but kiwi way.
“Our partnership with Auckland FC is something special. We share a passion for pushing boundaries and doing things differently, and tonight’s show was a perfect example of that.
“Working with Whitecliffe students was a highlight. Their talent and fresh perspective brought something special to the runway, and we’re proud to have backed their vision.
“This wasn’t just a kit launch – it was a celebration of culture, sport, and style. We’re excited to keep building on this momentum and continue showing what’s possible when you bring great people and ideas together.”
Liam Gillion, Auckland FC Forward
“This was a little unusual for me to say the least, I tried not to catch the eye of my teammates too much, but I enjoyed it, and I was proud to wear the kit.
“The designs of fashion students were incredible; they are so talented. I have a lot of respect for those guys. It was a great afternoon and fantastic to get involved in something I wouldn’t usually be exposed to.”
Liam Taylor, Board Director at New Zealand Fashion Week
“It has been a real highlight working with the New Balance and AFC team to bring to life this special moment within NZ Fashion Week. We are big fans of the approach that AFC has taken by fostering a sense of community around the team.
“This is something that we are focussed on nurturing as we take NZ Fashion Week into a new era.”
