The blue-white-red shirt with the large letters Brooklyn is one of the most famous figures in cycling history. Santini brings it back into the collection Santini x Brooklyn.
The team
The team started in 1970 as Dreher. In 1972 they changed their name to Roger De Vlaeminck, and later that year, chewing gum maker Perfetti took over under the name Brooklyn Chewing Gum. The riders rode on Gios bicycles in the typical ‘blue Gios’. Between 1973 and 1977 the team won major races, including the Giro in 1975. Vlaeminck won Paris-Roubaix four times and became ‘Monsieur Roubaix’. In 1977 Perfetti retired and the team disappeared.
The collection
- A hoodie based on the original uniform, in modern technical fabric.
- Two woolen sweaters: a tribute to the historical team colors and a tribute to De Vlaeminck, the jersey in which he became world champion in field athletics in 1975.
- Two cotton T-shirts, a sweater and a baseball cap.
Santini does not mention the prices in the post; the collection is available in the Santini webshop.
Our perspective
There are plenty of retro jerseys, but Brooklyn is a real classic, and with the link to De Vlaeminck, he also appeals to Belgian and Dutch racing fans. Fun fact: Spike Lee already had a character wearing the Brooklyn cap in 1986.
Source: Santini