Philadelphia Union today unveiled the new 2021 secondary kit featuring a never-before-seen style and colour template in the team’s ten-year history. The “BY|U” kit is a first for many reasons, the lightning pattern and bold blue and yellow, but most importantly, this jersey was designed start-to-finish by a group of fans, the Union Creators’ Collective.
The 2021 MLS season is edging towards its 3 April kick off, and along with the new official match ball which was revealed recently, teams are gearing up for the campaign ahead, unveiling their new kits. And Philadelphia Union are the next team to unveil what will be their secondary shirt for the coming season. But this is no ordinary shirt; known as the “BY|U” kit, the new shirt is a first for club and fan culture in both design and creative conception.
“The new kit is truly by the fans, by ‘the U’. Fans wanted colours influenced by the flags of the Delaware Valley, a design inspired by innovation born in our city, and they wanted to shock the soccer world,” said Doug Vosik, Chief Marketing Officer, Philadelphia Union. “This kit is Philadelphia. The gritty, beautiful, diverse, creative place that we all love. As a Philly native and an original season ticket holder years before working at the Union, I have not had a prouder moment in bringing our community together to shape the future of our club.”
In 2019, the Union Creators’ Collective was formed to build a group of fans that would participate in every step of the jersey design process including building and creating the creative brief that went to Adidas, giving feedback to concepts and art, and reviewing samples well before launch. The Collective met countless times over the course of two years both in the Union’s office and, during COVID, through social distanced home visits by Union employees to solicit feedback on designs and samples. The Collective includes season ticket holders, Sons of Ben members, Union super fans, members of the media, and Union employees and players.
The “BY|U” kit, features a blue base with a tonal lightning pattern with bolt yellow accents bringing to life what could be called the most famous science experiment in history. Lightning is unpredictable, but it strikes with a speed and sudden power that destroys everything in its path. This symbolises the Union’s unique and energetic style of play.
On the left chest sits the Union’s logo in colours derived from the flags of Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware, while they are also a nod to the branding of Union supporters’ group, the Sons of Ben.
“Energy and persistence conquer all” is featured on the necktape, a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin and his belief that nothing could defeat the combination. Lastly, flying high above the player name and number, there’s a kite and key icon on the back of the jersey. Innovation is in Philadelphia’s DNA, and never more clearly than when electricity was harnessed from the sky with only a kite and a key.
The Philadelphia Union 2021 Secondary Shirt will be available from 5 February at mlsstore.com
