Despite performing on the pitch, Bellerín’s participation in the fashion industry often saw him – like Beckham – forced to hit back at critics who accused him of not being focused on football.
‘So many people Tweet me saying focus on the game, having seen me at fashion shows or whatever, and I am just like ‘don’t worry’. I am a human being. I have passions, I have hobbies but equally, I am a footballer and that is my main focus,’ he said at an event at Oxford University.
Lately, football and fashion have become interwoven. It’s no longer surprising to see footballers wearing Armani, Dior, and Chrome Hearts, or featuring in ad campaigns for high-profile brands. There’s even a wildly popular Instagram page dedicated to celebrating footballer’s drip.
Recognised as playing a key role in bridging the gap between fashion and football, as well as being affectionately labelled the football x fashion G.O.A.T., Bellerín has launched his own sustainable clothing line: Gospel Estudios.
Gospel Estudios is a made-to-order, slow fashion label designed and launched by Bellerín himself.
As a long-term advocate for a more sustainable future, he’s made sure that Gospel Estudios scores high on brand transparency. Its website lists all the materials used in its first drop, right down to buttons, elastic waistbands, and zippers.
Each piece in the brand’s first collection is made of 100 percent organic cotton and lace. The company also makes use of deadstock fabrics to create its products, bringing life to discarded or unused materials that are typically thrown away by high fashion brands.
Fossil fuel based, plastic fabrics such as polyester are used sparingly. So far, they can only be found in the elastic waistbands of Gospel Estudios’ trousers.
Bellerín is no stranger to activism, regularly advocating for women’s reproductive rights, liberal politics, and the environment. He’s also experienced in sustainable fashion design, working with H&M to design and create a conscious clothing collection in early 2021.
Furthering his venture into design, he was named the creative director of Volta, the street version of EA Sports’ FIFA 2021, with the role of developing virtual and customisable jerseys for players in the game.
It will be interesting to see how Hector continues to push the boundaries with Gospel Estudios as it evolves over time. We’ll have to wait as additional collections are released and more sustainable materials are incorporated.
Though Bellerín is widely regarded as the footballer who inspired his peers to engage in high fashion, he is wary of taking all the credit.
Speaking about David Beckham’s daring style choices during his days on the pitch, Bellerín said, ‘[Beckham] opened doors for everyone. And I think not just in football, but for men overall. In these very masculine places, it’s very hard to be different.’
In 2019 and 2022 respectively, British Vogue and The New York Times both labelled Bellerín football’s ‘most stylish man’. He often attributes his unique style to his family, who he described as being ‘built around fashion’.
No doubt, though, Bellerín has helped to uplift and encourage his peers to embrace and experiment with self expression through clothing. Today’s off-duty footballers could easily be mistaken for models, actors, or rappers when spotted at fashion shows or lounging in luxury hotels during the off season.
As time goes on, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more players taking a lead from Hector and dabbling in fashion design in the future. Let’s just hope they take the sustainable route, too!
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