The 30 teams in the NBA will have their own new "urban version" jersey in the 2022-23 season, from the vest on the upper body to the shorts on the lower body, these new jerseys that are very different from the team's ordinary jerseys, what unique design elements are behind them. Let's join Jesse Alvaraz, product director of jersey manufacturers, to reveal some of the most storytelling urban jerseys ("Q" represents reporters, "A" represents Alvaraz) -
Q: I want to start with the Spurs jersey. Can you tell me about the design of the shirt and the inspiration behind it?
A: In my opinion, and in the impression of many people, the Spurs have the most iconic jersey in the history of the All-Star Game (the 1996 All-Star Game jersey).
So from this city version of the jersey, just the color and the overall feel, you can clearly see the elements of that jersey.
If you ask for details, I think the most characteristic thing is the belt position of the shorts, with the word "SA" and the spurs logo. I think the wrap-around design is very good, adding a touch of color to this design similar to the all-bright planet suit.
Q: When I first look at these city jerseys, I can immediately recognize a lot of the familiar colors of the team. The green color of the Pistons jersey seems to have little to do with the Pistons theme color we usually remember. Why is that?
A: The city of Detroit has a great story, and our jersey comes from the story of Santa Cecilia. In Detroit, Santa Cecilia Stadium is where players often gather to play catch-up games. The color of this jersey is inspired by the stained glass of Santa Cecilia. There is an aphorism in Santa Cecilia: "This is not the place where stars are born, but where they are made." "So we use this shirt to bring those stories to everyone.
Q: Did you really send someone to visit the stadium?
A: yes, we really worked with the Pistons to get it done, they took a lot of pictures of us, and whatever we needed, they could get it right in front of us. Like many other jerseys, it all starts with the team that wears it. They know that their fans are the best group of fans, and this is a very important source of inspiration.
Q: Do you personally have a favorite jersey?
A: One of the things I always tell people is that it's really hard to pick your favorite jersey. It all feels like your child. However, I think I have one this time, which is the Bulls jersey in the back. I really like the design of this urban version, on the jersey, you can see the dark pattern of the "letter Y" arranged in various forms. This is the symbol of Chicago's municipal facilities, behind this logo, is the way to connect the city, on the shorts, the bull logo is right in the middle of the Y, I think, the bull is the heart of the city, and this logo is the best way to interpret this concept.
Q: I personally like the multi-color scheme of the Timberwolves City jersey, but obviously this is not a very relevant solution for the Timberwolves. So what kind of idea is this?
A: One of the things that makes this jersey special is that it looks ordinary, but it contains every story of this team and every place where they have taken roots. The multi-color pattern on their chest is actually a special color from each of their past jerseys. Moreover, the color arrangement on the chest of each jersey is different, and each shirt is a unique shirt, which is also a way to express their unique creativity.
Q: I also found the Hornets' City jersey to be special, probably the most angry Hornets I've ever seen in my life.
A: It's really the most aggressive wasp, and there's a great story behind it. I think everything revolves around the first American mint there, and I'm not sure you can see it clearly, but the vertical stripes on the jersey are a tribute to coinage, and that's what inspired the jersey. There are also gold-based letters, with mint trim, which will make people immediately have an economic association, making people aware of the mint in Charlotte.
Q: The last jersey I'd like to hear you talk about is the Heat's city jersey. Can you tell me the details inside, especially the stripe on the side, which looks really cool design.
A: Talking about the Heat's jersey, the yellow stripe on the layer is a winding yellow line. This element appears because you can also see the Heat's sideline staff during the game, pulling out a yellow line. And the words on the chest are the second work of the kind of mash-up style they tried last year.
For this year's jersey, they chose the main color of the jersey as white, which also made those letters and numbers on the chest more prominent. It also contains some Floridan elements, including their white sand beaches and neon glow. All these different elements came at the same time, and it also created the Heat team, created this jersey.