Dropping a fresh take on the classic varsity look, adidas have unveiled the new VRCT jacket that celebrates the heritage of team pride with customisable patches. Roping in some of their leading names across multiple sports adidas opened up the customisation feature to Paulo Dybala, James Harden, Mette Towley, Denise Schindler, Ning Zetao and Stefanos Tsitsipas who all created their own patches, each featuring a word that represents their personal story.
Paying homage to the traditional letterman jacket, VRCT features a customizable patch that invites athletes to show the world who they are. Designed to be worn before and after training, VRCT reworks an iconic design for a classic bomber aesthetic with a sleek, modern fit. Featuring flexible, lightweight material, the jacket offers maximum freedom of movement, while a soft double-knit fabric enables year-round wearability. But it's that customisable patch that stands out here.
The VRCT jacket features a classic adidas ‘A’ team patch that can be interchanged and personalized. Athletes can create their own message, or choose a word selected by some of adidas’ leading creators including NBA MVP James Harden (FAMILY), Paralympic Cyclist Denise Schindler (I’MPERFECT), Artist and dancer Mette Towley (AUTHOR), Juve midfielder Paulo Dybala (SACRIFICE), Champion Swimmer Ning Zetao (BRAVE) and Tennis player Stefanos Tsitipas (BELIEVER). Athletes can customize their VRCT jacket in store and at adidas.com.
Dybala opted for the world 'Sacrifice' and explains his decision by saying:
“I chose the word sacrifice mostly because it defined a very important part of my childhood. I think it was fundamental when I was a boy, to sacrifice a lot, which I didn’t realise back then, or perhaps I didn’t see it that way. Beyond the effort and the hard work, which are also important, there were key times in which I had to choose between certain things, and I always chose football.
When I was a boy, I had friends, classmates, and it was the time when young people start going out, clubbing, or to a 15th birthday party, which are big in Argentina – but I always knew my dream was to play football, not really knowing what could happen, if I could make it or not. But, it was what I wanted.
The career of a football player, particularly at this level, requires leaving many things aside. Sometimes I don’t see it as a sacrifice, because it is also a part of my everyday life. Taking a shorter holiday to begin training earlier to reach the pre-season feeling good, to be in good shape for your team, to be fully available and at peak fitness, being careful with meals, doing some extra training, going to bed earlier to recover after a game. These are things which, if you want to make it to the highest levels, you have to sacrifice.
So I’m always grateful and I appreciate everything I get to do, because, honestly, when I was on the other side, all this looked so far away, or even unthinkable, and being here today I always try and enjoy it and have a good time. That’s all.”
The adidas VRCT Jacket is available from adidas.com in a selection of colorways.
