Have you ever met a Spaniard who has such a distinctive cockney twang in their accent? Introducing Hector Bellerin, the now-30-year-old right-back who hails from Barcelona but grew up in Hale End and made a name for himself at the Emirates. If the football x fashion movement had its own Mount Rushmore, Hector Bellerin would be there.
Heccy B, as he’s often called, represents a different side to the game. One where creativity flourishes, from YouTube vlogs to Fashion Week runways to designing Arsenal formal wear, not to mention being a strong advocate for sustainability in sport, and standing up against the injustices unfolding in front of our very eyes.
Having grown up in Barcelona until the age of 16, then relocating to London following a move to Arsenal, it’s fair to say that Bellerin’s youth was a tale of two halves. And the man that he has become certainly reflects the breadth of experiences and exposure to alternative cultures he’s had throughout his life.
Heccy has always had swag, and he was one of the first ballers to put it on in the front row, attending London Fashion Week back in 2019 – rocking his signature long hair as well as gold pyjamas, Gucci loafers, a transparent Neil Barrett jacket, not to mention the classic Prada bucket hat.
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True to it, not new to it, Heccy B was the rookie of the year. So much so, he was selected by the late Virgil Abloh to walk for Louis Vuitton’s SS20 show during Paris Fashion Week 2020 – sporting a head-to-toe LV fuchsia set. Not only was the crossover between Virgil and Hector dope, but it was made even more significant as Bellerin was recovering from a severe injury, having suffered an ACL tear that season.
But despite the injury, that year Bellerin really proved to the world that footballers are more than the sum of their actions on the pitch. Not only did he make the transition into high fashion, but Heccy B also thrust himself into YouTube. He was one of the first players to directly communicate with their audience, using the injury as an opportunity to combine his passion for videography with the ever-growing interest in what happens behind the curtain.
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Not only did he model and vlog, but during his injury layoff, Hector used his relationship with 424’s Guillermo Andrade to secure a collaboration for the Arsenal x 424 pre-match formal wear. He then became stylist and creative director for the launch of the inaugural Arsenal Women’s formal wear collection.
More than a creative at heart, Bellerin is a man of the people. Consistently advocating for sustainability in sport, while playing a key role in efforts to make football greener. The defender is a major shareholder in the first vegan football club, Forest Green Rovers, and his broader advocacy has been recognised, as he was recently announced as a global champion for the BBC Green Sport Award 2025.
Hector Bellerin is more than just a footballer. He represents a turning point in the football x fashion movement – a veritable trailblazer. Hand-picked by Virgil Abloh himself, Heccy B is an OG of the new wave, and he was not content with just rewriting the script in football. Beyond the game, he’s become an advocate for the less fortunate, voicing his concerns over injustices in the world and making a stand for what is right.
Muchas Gracias Heccy B
