The influence of MLS continues to grow, and established franchise, New York City FC have made their first moves into a realm away from the pitch, collaborating with NY-based pioneering streetwear label STAPLE for a collection that marks the biggest streetwear collaboration to date for Major League Soccer. A central role in the collection is reserved for the pigeon – STAPLE’s iconic motif and the unofficial mascot of New York City and NYCFC – with it featuring across the range.
The design concept of the collection taps into the rich history of the NYC Subway signage vernacular with the dots and colour-coded lines of Massimo Vignelli’s redesigned NYC Subway Map reworked to represent NYCFC and STAPLE. The minimalist, geometric design elements combined with NYCFC’s signature bold colours – navy blue, sky blue and orange – pay homage to the system that is responsible for connecting people from downtown up to Yankee Stadium and across all boroughs.
The five-piece collection consists of a white short-sleeve tee modelled on a classic shirt design, a black varsity-style long-sleeve tee emblazoned with ‘97 (the founding year of STAPLE), a grey hoodie featuring a subtle design nod to the NYC Subway Map, a spirited, dual-sided woven soccer scarf, and a Pintrill pin that cleverly channels the old-school NYC subway token with a custom combination of a Pigeon stamp and the NYCFC badge circle.
NYCFC Vice President of Marketing, Sarah Bishop comments “The partnership between NYCFC and STAPLE is a natural one for both our brands given the connection we have with the people and culture across the five boroughs that make up New York City. We are proud to partner with jeffstaple, STAPLE and Reed Art Department and are excited to see the collection worn in the bleachers and on the streets all across the City.”
“The Pigeon is a major representation of the New York City hustle and energy – it always manages to not just survive but also win. It’s incredible that the Pigeon is recognised as NYCFC's unofficial mascot for the same reasons that I chose to have it be the icon for STAPLE,” says jeffstaple, Founder and CEO of STAPLE and Reed Art Department. He adds, “it was important for us to create a collection that evokes a sense of community and emphasises our shared connections as New Yorkers.”
The Staple x NYCFC 2021 Collection will be available exclusively at Extra Butter August 7th.
Photos by Nick TK Pinto
Model: Akeem Dewan