From Boys of Summer to Men of Steel
Want to understand the state of contemporary sports uniform design? I have one word for you: superheroes.
The signs are everywhere: baseball players wearing reptilian-looking batting helmets and dot-matrix sleeve patterns; football players wearing matching jerseys and pants (instead of the traditional two-tone look) and helmets apparently borrowed from Optimus Prime; basketball players wearing tights. And that's not counting Oregon's football program, which appears to be straight out of DC Comics.
And the superhero trope isn't limited to team sports. When Serena Williams wore one of her outlandish getups in 2004, an AP story said she "looked like a costumed superhero." She later switched to another design and said, "This is my Wonder Woman outfit. I feel real powerful in this suit, like a superhero." And does this new wrestling uniform design remind you of anything?
Maybe this isn't so surprising, since modern training methods and steroids have given us athletes with superhuman or even freakish physiques.
Unfortunately, it puts sports on an unattainable fantasy plane, which puts a serious dent in the aspirational appeal that's always been one of the sports world's nicest, most romantic elements. As a kid, I thought (however misguidedly) I could grow up to be a ballplayer. But most kids are smart enough to know they’ll never grow up to be Superman.
Paul Lukas writes the "Uni Watch" column for ESPN.com and has his own Uni Watch website, both of which examine sports uniform design in obsessive and excruciating detail. He has a near-pathological aversion to the color purple. Paul Oslo Davis is an illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. He draws for various newspapers and magazines including The Age and Is Not Magazine.
Remarks 14 total remarks were added before the post was closed.
Matthew McVickar
Perhaps uniform design is just on a different timeline, and will catch up to the current trends in design. It would be cool to see some new colors and minimalist design on the playing field.
Sports are all about bravado, though, so I'm sure sure if subtlety is ever going to be in the cards. Or in the threads, as it were.
(Nice effect on the article title, by the way.)
Chris Carpenter
This effect has also been observed in the world of cycling. Mario Cippolini was well known for departing from his standard issue kit and donning skinsuits with his 'muscle' groups printed on the material as well as tiger and zebra patterns. He did it for charity and help earn a lot of money. Cippo certainly had bravado was remembered as a flamboyant rider.
As for sports kit in general, it only serves one purpose, to earn lots of money for the companies that make the kits! Each year, teams in the English football leagues release new strips, then the football mad public go and buy it!
david
Though I'd never heard of the superhero idea before, I'm amazed at how accurate this seems. I think only of the way that football jerseys have become so much tighter and sleeker.
I would add, though, that I don't really think that the superhero effect will or could much change a kid's aspirations. I know that sports uniforms were more superhero-ly when I was growing up than when my dad was, but I wanted to be a ball player as much or more than he did. Besides, what kid doesn't aspire to be Superman, even if they know it's impossible. Kids don't worry about the impossible.
BJ Clark
While this is certainly an apt description of lots of uniforms, it seems to be overlooking alot of the biggest teams. There's hardly anything super hero about the Yankee's pin stripes. In fact, I'd say they are more in the subtle/minimal category Mathew McVickar longed for.
Also, there's new uniforms that don't meet this at all. The new powerhouse American cycling team Slipstream/Chipotle are wearing Argyle.
So, while I don't deny that there are definately some teams that get some inspiration from comics (Oregon for sure), I'd be hard pressed to agree that it's some sort of trend.
Travis Gertz
In North American culture, superheros such as Superman represent what our culture has deemed the ultimate human being. In most cases they are masculine, muscular, handsome, white, straight, chivalrous males with the a strong sense of black and white morality.
It is this "ideal" image that children desire to attain and you could argue that several adults, especially athletes still do. No one aspires to be Clark Kent who shows a contrast to Superman to hide his identity. Kent is often portrayed as weak, shy, and un-masculine which is depicted as the opposite of Superman... or you could say, the opposite of ideal.
While I agree that the uniform designs help to support this "ultimate" human image in sports, I don't believe that kids are any more realistic about the possibility of reaching this. In fact, I think the larger problem is that they are working harder to achieve it. Increasing steroid use among teens, workout binges and addiction all for the pursuit of the perfect image. The parallels to superheroes just makes it even more attractive.
Ken Seals
Speaking of the Slipstream/Chipotle cycling team, you can vote for their 2008 jerseys here.
Voting ends today. Also, let's not forget about superbike racers, race car drivers, and though not a sport, fighter pilots. For instance, this fighter pilot helmet is actually designed to look intimidating,
roger
The University of Kansas replaced the lettering on their sports uniforms recently - swapping an old circus font for Trajan, the choice of movie superheroes everwhere. It's sparked a student backlash.
neil
Interesting thoughts. You can't tell me that Serena Williams played in that outfit! Of course, I've always wondered how practical fighting crime in a cape would be, as well.
David Sparks
I'm okay with the new NFL Uniforms but baseball should really stay more traditional in my opinion. The first time I saw a baseball player wearing a "vest" style jersey I died a little bit inside. Don't even get me started on the Padres "Camo" uniforms. Ugg
Michael Zajac
Anybody remember Canada's 2002 Olympic speed skating uniforms?
Matt Jacobs
I think the biggest problem with sports uniforms is they're old and stoic. There's obviously a delicate balance, but I wish more teams would take a chance on unusual uniforms.
I'd also be curious to see how much a new uniform effects the play of the team. I'm sure someone has stats on how teams fared the first year they wore a new uniform.
Louise
I think it's a good time to take sports to a more intense, more awesome level.
And I love Paul's illustration here. They're so charming!
Aaron
Spot on. I think the true tip-off was the ab muscles on the Oregon concept sketch.
This could also apply to sports team logos, some of which might look better as a nameplate emblazoned on the cover of a comic book.
As both a comic and sports fan, however, I can't decide if comics are tainting sports, or vice-versa.
Scott
I've pretty much come to the personal conclusion that I visit this website merely to marvel at the beautiful design. The reason I say this is that I can't stand the bleeding-heart hippy commentary that is presented. WAAA! The world is an ugly place! We're all special! Athletes are put on a pedestal! Give me a break...
Good thing the site is pretty.