Bikkembergs - FC Fossombrone

Bikkembergs FC Fossombrone is the football team bought and sponsored by the Belgian designer Dirk Bikkembergs. Playing in the Italian amateur leagues, FC Fossombrone’s goal is to get into the Serie D. What’s unique about this club is the way that they are sponsored by Dirk Bikkembergs design company.

FC Fossombrone have been completely decked out in Bikkembergs kit, from football boots, to team kit, training gear and casual after game clothing. Bikkembergs has developed the apparel with extreme detail, for instance each kit is carefully crafted and unique in its cut, just like a haute couture garment. The post match wear is also interesting. Discarding the traditional blazer and tie look, in favour of jeans and leather jackets, made to look like a tracksuit top.

Bikkembergs Bix football boots were developed with the assistance of the FC Fossombrone team, who tested the football boots and gave feedback during the research and development phase.

Dirk said “What’s been going on at Fossombrone has attracted the attention of a lot of young people, who now see me as their hope for a serious future as a professional in this sport. I’ve begun to dream of one day organising a multi-ethnic world cup for young non-professional players”.

The Bikkembergs Bix football boots, are a traditionally built pair of boots, with a modern design.

Bikkembergs Bix football boots are a uniquely styled football boot, available in silver and blue, or silver and red colourways, for the current season. They also have two versions, one with 12 bi-density polyurethane moulded studs, the other with 6 screw in studs.

Performance: The upper is made of Kangaroo leather, as always, durable and good for the touch. The Kangaroo leather is water repellent helping the football boot to resist water and reducing weight during competitive play. The lacing cover provides a clean strike surface and increases sensitivity to the ball. The leather tongue, with the elastic band gives the neck of the foot more wrapping and protection. The silk screen which is found on the circle design, not only provides aesthetic value, it carries a practical function of enhanced ball control due to the grip print that was used in its application.

Comfort: The shape of the Bix football boot follows the anatomy of the foot, with a glove style cut making it a very comfortable. The shell protecting the heel is made of natural thermoform rubber and was designed to eliminate the problem of blisters. With the inner lining made of antibacterial nylon 420.

Players: Ludovic Giuly and the entire FC Fossombrone team.

Price: Approximately £160 (240 Euro’s).

Verdict: As this is not a mainstream football boot, the Bikkembergs Bix football boot will certainly help you stand out from the crowd. A nice fusion of traditional build with modern design. The price tag will prevent the football boot from being a regular in the amateur leagues.

Using his artistic design flair ,and the experience of a specialist company. Dirk Bikkemberg has designed a football boot to help young fooballers on their way.

“I didn’t want to follow the current futuristic trend,but asked myself a simple question: What does a kid need to play football? Two fundamental things, studs that allow agility on the field and a football boot that covers the foot like a glove. I made some stylistic refreshments and did some psychological gymnastics and created a modern reinterpretation of the best of the beginnings of the sport”, explains the Belgian designer.

His boots though ‘deluxe’, are back to basics, no futuristic forms or hi-tech materials, just kangaroo skin and exquisite handiwork.

On sale for a year at a time ‘Bix’ the name for these football boots, can be purchased in either silver and blue or silver and red. Made in Italy, they come with a transparent sole bearing the “pupino” logo of Bikkembergs Sport and the front part of the upper with the distinctive circles, ‘a symbol of energy and power’, that characterises the kit of Dirk’s team, FC Fossombrone.

“This is my homage to my team, which we used to test the football boot throughout the twelve months of work required to produce it. But for me, this project is also a challenge and a ticket to make my entrance on the actual field of play. I want to show the kids that my interest in the sport is real and I wanted to make something they can really use”.

Bikkembergs Football Boots - Bix

He may be better known for his fashion designs, but Dirk Bikkembergs is actually the man behind a new football boot.

Although it is not a main stream brand in the UK for football boots, the Bikkembergs brand is strong in the fashion world. The football brand has a strong following in Belgium, Italy, Holland and Germany and is likely to gain strength in other areas of Europe too.

It is perhaps in fashion where many will have seen the unique “pupino” logo that is often adorned by celebrities and football players alike. David Beckham has been known to wear the brand and more recently Michael Ballack was wearing the T-Shirt as he strutted around Stamford Bridge at the start of this football season.

Bix Football Boots

Footy Boots will be providing a full review on the football boots over the coming days. They are currently being worn by Barcelona striker Ludovic Guily and the entire FC Fossombrone team from Italy, more on that to come too.