Maradona, Napoli and English fashion A chat with the founder of TRiCKETT England who takes inspiration from the colors of Napoli and Naples

When you look at TRiCKETT England products, you immediately feel that there is one of those stories behind that deserve to be told. After all, great lovers of Naples and Napoli in Accrington, in the county of Lancashire, are not many. Yet Iain Trickett - founder of the British fashion brand - was struck by the road that leads to Stadio San Paolo, the Riviera di Chiaia and the Quartieri Spagnoli. Trickett's works are clearly inspired by the Neapolitan culture, the colors of Naples and the stories that make the city "intoxicating". We asked Iain to tell us about his love story with Naples, his relationship with fashion and his latest work, the photographic book "This is Naples" to be released on July 2nd.

You have always claimed to be fascinated by the different sports cultures that often become sources of inspiration. Where did your “obsession” with the city Naples and Napoli begin? And why Naples?

I think sport triggers something in many of us, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat and everything in between. I have always found the places and communities that make sport a part of their daily lives the most attractive and I think this is why I love Napoli as much as I do.

The first time I visited Sorrento, I was struck by how a town 40km away from Napoli could be as obsessed with the team as people in the centre of the city. I would walk around and old men would have wallets with the famous Napoli N on them. There were pictures of Maradona all around, jerseys from seasons passed and all in what is basically a tourist trap.

After that I just made it my mission to find out why people loved Napoli as much as they did. I am still, to this day, amazed by what I find and what people say about the place. The personalities, the culture, the football team, religion, art, music - it is intoxicating. As Pino Daniele said “Napoli is a thousand colours” and I want to see every single one of them.

Let's talk about "This is Naples", the photographic book released on July 2 that tells a sacred place in Naples like the Spanish Quarters and the characters who inhabit them. What do places, people and artistic panoramas of that area of Naples have for you?

The Spanish Quarter has a reputation for being a dangerous, mysterious place that you would only go to if you knew a lot about Napoli or someone could get in you without being mugged or murdered. However the reality is that it is a vibrant, colourful and beautiful place filled with amazing people and sights. As recently as 2 days ago I had a customer email asking if it was safe for tourists to go to Napoli, which I still find really shocking. The book was created to show Napoli in all of its glory, to encourage people to go and see the beauty of the city and the surrounding areas.

Napoli is the only places outside of my hometown of Accrington where my soul has felt at home. The two places couldn’t be more different, but the core beliefs of the two places are almost exactly the same - identity, family and working hard. I always seem to be attracted to places that don’t bend to the fashions of the time and stay very much true to themselves. Gentrification is something that is sweeping across the world and for the most part Napoli seems to be resisting it, which is yet another reason that I love the place, it stays true to itself.

I admit that a city in the shadow of a volcano is not necessarily for everyone, but when I was looking for somewhere to call home, Napoli welcomed me, made coffee, gave me their football team and asked for nothing in return. Money from the sale of the books will also go to local charities in Napoli which range from maintaining street artworks through to community projects in Rione Sanita, just as a small way of giving back to Napoli. I will always be grateful for what the sons and daughters of Vesuvius have given me and I just hope the book gives them some idea of how much they mean to me. Forza Napoli sempre.