One of the most well-known uniforms around is undoubtedly Foot Locker’s eye-catching black and white Striper jersey. Foot Locker was, and is, a hub for sneaker culture, art, music, and sport. From the latest trends and silhouettes to exclusive drops, the brand is a respected emblem amongst streetwear and footwear aficionados alike. The legacy of the iconic Striper jersey has surpassed the walls of Foot Locker stores. Developing into a cultural icon, the jersey is the shining beacon of a brand that has been a long-standing staple for many of us as we’ve grown up.
The staff jersey has seeped its way into all the cracks and corners of contemporary culture, from appearing on the TV show Parks and Recreation to being donned by NBA All-Stars and celebrities like Bow Wow. The jersey signifies not only a brand that we know and love, but moments in history from grand store openings to collaborative sports events.
For its 45th anniversary back in 2019, Foot Locker’s black and white Striper jersey was the inspiration and color palette for four exclusive sneaker revamps which saw the adidas LA Trainer, adidas AM4 Ultra Boost, PUMA Liquid Cell, and Converse Chuck Taylor all get a true Foot Locker makeover. In the same year, Nike, in collaboration with designer Alexandra “Mini Swoosh” Hackett, created bespoke uniforms for Foot Locker staff. The Striper jersey received a vibrant blue Air Max Plus inspired remodel, as a nod to the longstanding relationship between Foot Locker and Nike.
Fast forward to 2021, and the jersey is the object of reinterpretation again. Foot Locker Europe, in partnership with Highsnobiety, announced a new series of collaborations with young creatives across Europe. The aim of this initiative is to give a platform and voice to upcoming designers that drive our cultural zeitgeist from the grassroots up. First in the series, we meet Amsterdam-based label, The New Originals, whose exciting and vibrant redesign of the archetypal jersey has us on the edge of our seats.
Established in 2015, The New Originals have made a name for themselves amongst the booming creative scene in the Netherlands. TNO makes performance clothing for creatives with attention to durability and design, with their motto of thinking outside the box the key focus of all their apparel. What started as a blog run by a group of friends in 2011 on contemporary culture, has now turned into a fully-fledged innovative brand.
Rizky Lasahido, co-founder of TNO commented on the exclusive drop saying "Foot Locker has always been a staple to us. When we were kids we always dreamt of getting a pair of shoes at the Kalverstraat store. But our moms were never able to take us shoe shopping. Coming from that, we’re more than excited to have this collaboration happen."
If you want to get your hands on one of the exclusive TNO x Foot Locker Stripers jerseys, you'll need to move fast as there are only 100 pieces available, on sale in the Foot Locker Kalverstraat store in Amsterdam, The Netherlands as well as online at www.footlocker.eu across Europe from June 16.
