Aimé Leon Dore loves European football And so does the Marinakis family
It has now been quite some time since November 26, when, on the occasion of the Champions League home match against Real Madrid, Olympiacos players took to the pitch wearing the collection born from the collaboration with Aimé Leon Dore, the brand founded by Teddy Santis and based in New York. Despite being constantly and strongly influenced by the world of American sportswear (from the MLB to the NBA, clearly visible in many pieces across its collections) the brand manages to preserve a deep connection with Greece. In fact, José Luis Mendilibar’s players also stepped onto the pitch against Los Blancos wearing what is perhaps the most American garment of all: a varsity jacket, the central item of that drop.
The relationship between Aimé Leon Dore and Greece is, in fact, intimate and personal, directly connected to the origins of Teddy Santis, the son of Greek immigrants from the island of Kefalonia. The collaboration with Olympiacos therefore represents a natural and significant step in ALD’s evolution, allowing the brand to keep its identity alive season after season and to demonstrate its presence in every corner of American culture, which is gradually embracing football as well within its vast array of sports that are celebrated and supported by powerful fanbases. Following the Olympiacos example, the Aimé Leon Dore logo has also recently appeared on another team, Nottingham Forest, with a completely different look, even though the contemporary preppy style remains, as it is an integral part of the brand’s DNA. Nottingham Forest, however, did not take to the pitch wearing a varsity jacket, but rather a grey suit, whose blazer is distinguished by the club’s logo accompanied by the cursive Aimé Leon Dore lettering.
The Marinakis family’s influence behind the decision to wear Aimé Leon Dore
Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest share the same owner, Evangelos Marinakis, a Greek multi-billionaire and a rather controversial figure for both sporting and non-sporting reasons. No direct news or links between Marinakis and the brand seem to have emerged; however, by digging deeper into the depths of Google, it is possible to read on Reddit about a bond between Evangelos’ son, Miltiadis Marinakis, and Teddy Santis. This relationship could plausibly have been one of the key factors in bringing the collaboration to fruition. Another element that must have played a fundamental role is the fact that Nottingham Forest have not yet signed a contract with a brand responsible for producing their formalwear. As a result, first the official collaboration with Aimé Leon Dore and then a bespoke piece, also signed by ALD and supplied by the local Nottingham store Black Butterfly, allowed the club to wear the brand without contractual constraints.
If, starting next year, a wordplay involving the club’s manager, Sean Dyche, and Aimé Leon Dyche begins to circulate, don’t say we didn’t warn you.
