Italian clothing maker Santini has unveiled its full collection of 'Eroica Approved' cycling gear including a British racing green variant for this weekend's Eroica Britannia.
L'Eroica is an annual vintage cycling event that takes place in the vineyards of Chianti in Tuscany every October. The Italian event courts 5,000 riders, all equipped with pre-1987 road bikes. Pairing coteries of steel-framed beauties with authentic-kit wearing riders, L'Eroica, and the various events the original has spawned around the world, celebrates all things retro cycling.
For the new Eroica line, the firm dug into its expansive archives to find apparel inspiration dating back to the 1960s. The special new collection recreates styles from decades past – some of which never even seen on colour film footage. Santini has combined Italian post-war fashion, traditional materials and modern manufacturing methods to serve up a slice of cycling history.
All the pieces have been designed with this in mind – simple vintage elegance that's far more concerned with aesthetics than maximum performance.
There are four main jerseys in the collection, each representing a different Eroica event: burnt orange and maroon for Gaiole in Chianti; yellow and blue for California; and white and grey for Eroica Hispania.
The four Eroica jerseys along with two Italian-inspired classics
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Like these three variants, the official jersey of Eroica Britannia is made from traditional wool yarn and is embroidered, rather than printed, in classic style. Other vintage details include a short metal zip on the front and three rear pockets, each closed with mother-of-pearl effect buttons. Naturally, the wool has been dyed in shades of British racing green for this weekend's Bakewell-based event.
Orange accents are a nod to Santini's own history, and like the rest of the range, the jersey is finished off with the brand's traditional logo – also recreated especially for the Eroica line.
Santini says the remainder of the collection includes garments inspired by the most significant pieces jealously preserved in the company's archive. These include a 1950's Maglia Rosa with polo-style collar, 1970's style ribbed turtleneck sweaters and tracksuits and wool shorts with modern-day chamois.
The second Eroica Britannia is a three-day festival of vintage two-wheeled fun based in Bakewell in the Peak District.
There are three ride distances to choose from this Sunday and a host of bands, street food and the world's biggest bike jumble. There's also the British Bazaar – just in case you fancy a wet shave or some casual shopping.
Check out the gallery above for more pictures from the range.
