The Story of St. Pauli’s Kits
No club combines football, culture, and activism quite like FC St. Pauli. Founded in 1910 in Hamburg’s port district, the team adopted brown and white colours that reflected the working-class neighbourhood it came from. Over time, those colours became a badge of counterculture and community, turning the club into a global symbol of independence and inclusivity.
The brown shirt has become an anti-establishment statement as much as a football kit — instantly recognisable to fans around the world.
Kit Evolution and Brand Heritage
For most of their early history, St. Pauli’s kits were simple brown shirts with white shorts, produced by local tailors. In the modern era, brands like Do You Football, Hummel, and Under Armour helped shape the club’s distinctive aesthetic. Today, St. Pauli proudly produces its own shirts through the in-house label DIIY (“Do It Yourself Yourselves”), reflecting its commitment to ethical manufacturing and sustainability.
Each season’s design carries subtle nods to the club’s values — minimalist, functional, and free of unnecessary extravagance. Away shirts often use white, black, or copper tones inspired by Hamburg’s harbour and architecture.
Famous St. Pauli Shirts
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2002/03 Home Shirt – the original “skull and crossbones” era design that turned a local club into a global cult brand.
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2010 Centenary Shirt – a retro-style kit celebrating 100 years of St. Pauli history.
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2019/20 Away Shirt – made from 100 % recycled polyester, one of the first fully sustainable professional football shirts.
2023/24 Home Shirt – produced by DIIY, featuring subtle stripe textures symbolising the wooden beams of the Millerntor stands.
Little-Known Facts About St. Pauli Kits
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Brown by chance: In the early years, the club’s intended maroon shirts were unavailable; brown was chosen as a practical alternative — and it stuck.
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The skull and crossbones: The Jolly Roger flag was first waved by fans in the 1980s and later adopted officially as an alternative emblem, representing rebellion and solidarity.
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Ethical production: Since 2021, all official shirts have been made under fair-trade conditions using recycled or organic materials — a first in German professional football.
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Fan ownership: Supporters had a direct say in switching from global manufacturers to the in-house DIIY brand, ensuring local jobs and ethical sourcing.
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Collector favourite: The 2005 “Retro Pirate” shirt with distressed fabric became one of the most sought-after St. Pauli kits ever produced.
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Anti-racism messaging: Many shirts include small printed slogans or symbols inside the collar, reaffirming the club’s stance against discrimination and inequality.
Unique colour codes: Each St. Pauli kit uses an exact proprietary shade of brown (Pantone 476 C) registered specifically for the club.
Our Range and Personalisation Options
At UK Soccer Shop, you can find the full range of St. Pauli football shirts — home, away, third, and retro designs — all 100 % authentic and produced to official standards. Personalisation is available, allowing you to add your name or a favourite player’s, complete with official lettering.
You’ll also find a wider selection of German football shirts, including clubs from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, perfect for collectors and fans of European football heritage. Shop rivals such as Hamburg shirts, Bayern Munich shirts and Borussia Dortmund shirts.
Why St. Pauli Shirts Stand Out
St. Pauli shirts represent far more than the game — they stand for identity, independence, and values. The brown and white colours, the skull emblem, and the sustainable production all embody a club that has built global respect by staying true to itself. Owning a St. Pauli shirt is a statement: of football passion, of community, and of standing for something bigger.