Press release from the University of Louisville athletic department:
PORTLAND, ORE. – In celebration of Black History Month, the University of Louisville men’s basketball team will wear special adidas uniforms inspired by the creativity, passion and expression of the early 20th century’s Harlem Renaissance at the Cardinals’ Feb. 23 game against Virginia in the KFC Yum! Center. UofL’s women’s team will wear the special uniforms for its home game against Boston College the following day on Feb. 24.
Throughout the month of February, all adidas Power 5 conference NCAA men’s and women’s basketball teams will wear a head-to-toe uniform inspired by the ballrooms of that era, including Arizona State, Rutgers, North Carolina State, Miami, Mississippi State, Louisville, Kansas, Indiana, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Georgia Tech.
Considered one of the most influential movements in African American history, the Harlem Renaissance was a creative movement that kindled a new cultural identity. In this era, the Renaissance ballroom became a place that epitomized basketball culture as local teams perfected their game on the same wooden floors that were also used for ballroom dance events and jazz shows. Together, the Harlem community infused their spirit of dance & sport within their day to day lives, and created an indisputable marriage between music, culture, and the game.
Inspired by the wooden floors of the ballrooms where basketball became culture, each adidas team jersey also includes patterns which mimic the fabrics and prints of the 1920s that became a means of self-expression and community pride. Each uniform features a unique bean stitch texture around the team name, the word “BALLROOM” on the inner waistband of each short, and a “Celebrating Black Culture” patch. The collection also includes a series corresponding footwear silhouettes which echo the colors of the jazz ballrooms so important to the era. Each detail is meant to be an homage to the art, poetry, sounds and sport of the Renaissance, and to those driving their passion forward.
“At adidas, we created the Celebrating Black Culture program as a way of honoring our past throughout Black History Month, but also across the entire calendar year,” said Adam Laitsas, Senior Director for adidas Basketball in North America. “We firmly believe that through sport, we have the power to change lives, and we’re humbled to be able to celebrate these historical sport moments through the new Harlem Renaissance collection, and can’t wait to see each team wear these on-court.”
Both men’s and women’s basketball teams from each partner school will rock their unique jerseys in-game throughout the month of February, and the full uniforms from a select group of universities are currently on sale on adidas.com. The Red Louisville Cardinals Harlem Renaissance Swingman jersey and shorts are available through the GoCards.com store at this link: https://uofl.me/2GvFll3 .
For more information, visit adidas.com/basketball and follow the conversation @adidashoops on Twitter and Instagram.
Built for ballrooms. Made for Louisville.
The Harlem Renaissance Collection debuts …
2.23.19 – @LouisvilleMBB
2.24.19 – @UofLWBB#GoCards #teamadidas pic.twitter.com/HVjuvz3dMF— Louisville Athletics (@GoCards) February 22, 2019
NEWS: Louisville to wear @adidas uniforms inspired by the Harlem Renaissance to honor #BlackHistoryMonth. #GoCards
🔗 https://t.co/UO3N2jgSU5 pic.twitter.com/c8RvLIFRGE
— Louisville Women’s Basketball (@LouisvilleWBB) February 18, 2019
Saturday's uniforms…
🔥 The Harlem Renaissance Collection 🔥#GoCards pic.twitter.com/wkRIw70TSr
— Louisville Men's Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) February 22, 2019
