In exploring the rich, football-centered archives of BasicNet, we previously delved into how a jersey embodies countless symbols and meanings. (https://athletamag.com/en/kappa-and-football-aesthetics-rhyme-with-progress-and-innovation/) History, marketing, love. Reflecting on some of the most legendary jerseys inspired by the iconic ‘Omini’ logo made us contemplate their identity-defining value and their role as vibrant compendiums of pop culture, fashion crossovers, and technological progress.

Now, through the invaluable insights of Michele Viggiano, Kappa & Briko Global Brand Manager, and Vincenzo Morabito, Kappa Sport Designer in Chief, we gain a deeper understanding of the human essence behind these ever-evolving works of art. Their experiences and words highlight a process driven by passion from the very start, a sense of responsibility born from a revolutionary legacy like no other, and a shared fascination with a brand that has made football its canvas. In this process, the noble football DNA of Kappa is revealed—a genetic code that’s ever-evolving, yet always true to a cultural sensibility passed down from desk to desk, from design to design

These biographies and the day-to-day work at Kappa form a seamless journey—one rich with design, cross-pollination, emotions, and memories. It’s the story of every Kappa jersey.

Can you tell us about your relationship with football imagery and the connection between Kappa and the Beautiful Game? What does it mean for you to work for a brand that has influenced football aesthetics for such a long time?

Michele Viggiano, Kappa & Briko Global Brand Manager: “I have to start with one basic point: what unites us internally, especially within the team working on Kappa’s football collaborations, is our passion for the game. It’s something we breathe and live in many different ways. First and foremost, it’s a passion shared by President Marco Boglione and his family. Secondly, right in front of our warehouse in Turin, there’s a grass football pitch, which every summer becomes the stage for our company football tournament. It’s a serious event. Each BasicNet brand has its own team. These tangible facts alone are enough to define the significance of football within our company. When it comes to our city, Turin, I think the ‘Torinese spirit’ is another factor to mention. I was born here, and like many of my colleagues, I grew up in the Kappa store. It was a magical place because it was the only one where you could find incredible jerseys. I remember Baggio’s Brescia kit, Del Piero’s National team jersey, and Ronaldo’s Barcelona shirt, which you couldn’t buy anywhere else… Kappa was our football benchmark. When we joined BasicNet, this sentiment only grew stronger, especially after discovering such significant historical details—like how Kappa was the first technical sponsor in Italian football history through a legendary deal with Juventus’ then-President Boniperti. Thanks to Kappa, for the first time, a technical sponsor’s logo appeared on a Serie A jersey… I’ve always been fascinated by thinking about Boniperti’s reaction, when he couldn’t believe he wouldn’t have to pay for his team’s kits anymore. It must have been a revolutionary moment. Walking into Kappa’s offices and breathing in these stories gives you a different energy. It opens the door to a new world and, at the same time, encourages you to study, look, and learn… to broaden your football imagination.”

Vincenzo Morabito, Kappa Sport Designer in Chief: “I’ll start with the company football match details because, as Michele mentioned, it’s a serious thing. I left a shoulder on that pitch. Now the cup is in K-Way’s hands, and every time I go to their offices, I think we should bring it back to Kappa’s trophy cabinet… There’s a healthy, positive rivalry that weaves into our daily interactions: in the weeks leading up to the tournament, they even take me out of some group chats (laughs). As for Kappa’s football imagery, I’ve lived it as a Torinese. My first vivid memory is from the 2000 National Team jersey. I was 15, and I watched the debut of that Kombat jersey from the couch, with my friends, thinking how revolutionary it was. I also won a regular championship wearing Kappa kits. I believe that victory was due to the fact that we felt particularly aesthetic… It was emotional when Kappa called me after I finished my university studies. Cagliari was my first experience, the first jersey I worked on. The third jersey of Torino for the 2015/16 season, however, remains my favorite project.”

The influence of external worlds: how important is it for Kappa football to explore parallel realms like music, photography, and technology?

Michele Viggiano, Kappa & Briko Global Brand Manager: “Once again, I need to start with some context: before the ‘80s, football jerseys were just jerseys—they didn’t belong to any off-pitch world. You bought a jersey because you supported a specific team. Then came the Kappa revolution, which sparked a trend that all brands connected to the football universe are now following. Kappa has always been built on the concept of cross-pollination: within our company, there’s a strong sense of transferring product categories into other sectors, constantly expanding our horizons. If I think of music, for example, I can’t help but mention the Kappa Future Festival or the numerous collaborations linking football jerseys to specific musical elements. The third kit for Genoa this season, inspired by the new generation of Genoese music scene, is a testament to these dynamics. Similarly, photography is another world that has influenced Kappa football over time, and beyond. President Marco Boglione is a huge photography enthusiast—we have an extensive archive cataloging iconic figures who have passed through BasicVillage, like Diego Armando Maradona. The Boglione family has also had a significant connection with Oliviero Toscani, who collaborated extensively in developing campaigns and ads. These ‘external’ influences touch our work every day, especially in design. The strength of our company, in my view, lies in involving young collaborators, fresh out of academia, and then helping them grow. They have their own way of seeing and approaching design, which ensures we stay constantly fresh. I’m 40, and every day, thanks to them, I connect with new realities. Design is a lifeblood for us, and football shirts are where it fully expresses itself, drawing in parallel dimensions. Nowadays, making football jerseys is a trend; for us, it’s DNA: we’ve always done it, and we must continue to do so, constantly reaffirming ourselves as innovators in the industry.”

Vincenzo Morabito, Kappa Sport Designer in Chief: “I work with products, and I’m one of the examples Michele mentioned. I joined Kappa at 24; it was my first job, and I feel like I’ve grown alongside the company, witnessing its contemporary evolution in the football world. I always make this comparison: the Kombat is to the football jerseys what the iPhone is to the mobile phones. There was a before and an after. Before 2000, football jerseys were something else, but Kombat revolutionized them, and from that moment on, everyone opted for a tight, super-skin fit, working with new types of details and fabrics. This couldn’t have happened without opening ourselves up to cross-pollination. I remind you that the Kombat was born from a surf wetsuit… If we hadn’t looked beyond the traditional world of football, we wouldn’t be where we are today. It’s an honor to work following this philosophy. Within the team, we feel the responsibility to continue creating a legacy for the future.”

From Versailles to Kallithea. From Red Star Paris to Kaiser Chiefs. Kappa Football has always dedicated a significant part of its attention to teams with unique charm: historic clubs, noble provincials, exotic giants… How do you compose the football universe of the brand?

Vincenzo Morabito, Kappa Sport Designer in Chief: “Identity is the common denominator behind our choices. We look for clubs that resonate with us, with a similar vision, one that’s focused on real football and grounded in values that are as much about the local community as they are about the game. It’s our job to translate these values, which differ from city to city, from country to country, into the aesthetic of a jersey. From this, we create synergies, like the ones with Kallithea FC or Versailles FC, which have many similarities but also many differences, each stemming from the unique essence of their clubs. For Kappa, it’s crucial to study and recognize the values of each club.”

Michele Viggiano, Kappa & Briko Global Brand Manager: “I believe Vincenzo has defined our ‘recipe’ quite well, one that naturally allows even smaller clubs to approach the concept of iconic status. I’m also referring to teams in lower divisions, like Triestina, whose jerseys this season have earned various national and international recognitions. Going back to Kallithea, the global fans know very few teams from the Greek top division, and Kallithea is one of them because their jerseys have put this club on the map. I’m particularly attached to these jerseys because they perfectly represent the modern union of football and fashion: they’re jerseys that can be worn every day, as streetwear pieces.”

What feelings cross your mind when you see a new jersey debuting?

Vincenzo Morabito, Kappa Sport Designer in Chief: “It’s the best part of our job: it’s the culmination of a long process filled with tears and smiles, the end of a journey. Knowing that millions of people are seeing a shirt you’ve helped bring to life is fantastic. Imagining inspiring fans and creatives globally is just as fulfilling. The recent example of Genoa’s third kit says it all: watching a new jersey make its debut at the Ferraris, in front of those stands steeped in football history, gives you chills, and at the same time, it reminds you that there’s already another challenge ahead of us, where we’ll need to push ourselves even further.”

Recently, you also announced a special partnership with UFL in the eSports space. Why did you decide to tap into this dimension?

Vincenzo Morabito, Kappa Sport Designer in Chief: “We are everything we’ve shared with you so far, but we can’t just be romantic or anchored to the past. We need to build the future, and to do that, we must involve the new generations. We have to follow the direction the world is going, stay close to a new kind of football passion, and find new touch points. For Kappa, connecting with progress is almost a mantra and a defining trait, highlighted by the long-standing fascination of the Boglione family with technology. UFL is just the latest chapter in an ongoing relationship with eGames that has been developing for a long time. It gives a sense of continuity in the present to what Kappa has always represented for football.”

Michele Viggiano, Kappa & Briko Global Brand Manager: “I’ll just add that our daily work has one priority: to educate the new generations. Nowadays, new stimuli are needed, far different from what was required by my generation or Vincenzo’s. We have to work with a different reality, in a different way. If we hadn’t discovered Kappa when we were young, we wouldn’t be here today. The same thing can and must happen for today’s youth. And we need to use every tool available to make it happen. This applies to our football division but also to the general direction of Kappa. I see it as another form of progress: earlier, we spoke about the Kombat, a milestone in our history that defines our most important cornerstone—innovation.”

What are Kappa’s current commitments, focus areas, and future directions? What is the state of the art of the ‘Omini’ logo applied to football today?

Vincenzo Morabito, Kappa Sport Designer in Chief: “We’re preparing. We’re working on a very long timeline, and right now, we’re already focused on the collections for 2027. It may sound like the future, but we’re already there. We’re laying the foundations to keep innovating, to stay relevant, to make Kappa and its products stand out. In this process, it will always be essential to remain consistent, respect our roots, and maintain a logical thread in everything we create.”

Michele Viggiano, Kappa & Briko Global Brand Manager: “We are fortunate to have such a long history behind us. Our job is to pass down our roots in the present and future, carry forward a precious legacy, and continue to seek innovation with the success and sensitivity that have always defined us.”