Sports team logos and streetwear fashion have gone together for a long time. Musicians have used team apparel to represent where they’re from, and designers have used them as markers of geographic pride.
Some logos are more famous than others, with perhaps the most famous being the Yankees’ famous “NY” logo. That’s probably why Supreme, another New York style institution at this point, is releasing an official apparel collaboration with the Yankees.
Back in May, Ralph Lauren released a line of apparel with the Yankees, as well as the Dodgers, Cubs and Cardinals. So, the idea of slapping a team logo on a fashionable piece of apparel isn’t new.
But while Ralph Lauren is still one of the top names in clothing design, Supreme has a level of hype that others have not been able to match, meaning this one will probably sell out immediately.
According to HypeBeast, the line includes a varsity jacket, a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants set, and a New Era fitted cap, all using various “NY” motifs.
SUPREME x NEW YORK YANKEES Fall 2022 Collection Drops On Thursday November 10th 👀 pic.twitter.com/Tl2pDEJ3Bs
— HypeNeverDies (@HypeNeverDies) November 7, 2022
Now, does this mean that your apparel clients need to work with the top sports teams in the world, or that your sports clients are missing the boat if their apparel isn’t sold for insane markups on resale sites? Of course not.
But, like any apparel release in retail or on the runway, there are takeaways. The first is that streetwear-style drops are becoming the norm in sports. Look at what the Arizona Coyotes have done with their new focus on branding and design. It’s almost as important as the on-ice product for them.
Also, this release shows that there’s wiggle room with logo placement and color usage. You don’t have to rely on the logo as it appears on every letterhead. By playing around with it and incorporating it into other designs, it becomes more than just a promotional product. It ingrained itself into the artwork and the experience of the piece itself.
Finally, it shows that buyers want choice. That means choice of colors, sizes and fits. One T-shirt in one color won’t cut it anymore. Look at what musicians are doing with their own merchandise. Taylor Swift’s new album came with multiple T-shirt designs alone.
Even Supreme let its famous logo sink into the apparel’s overall design rather than stand out.
Your clients don’t have to be in the big leagues to create big league-quality merchandise.
