Nike Sportswear Presents First-Ever South African Collaboration

As a host country, staging the world’s biggest football tournament is an honour in its own. As an individual invited to collaborate with the world’s largest sports brand, and have your artwork presented as a collection in the product range, is a defining moment.

That was the take-out from Kronk, an emerging artist from Cape Town who collaborated with Nike Sportswear on the football collection.

At an exclusive preview event on Monday, 3rd May at the Gallery on 4th in Melville, Nike Sportswear presented their collaboration with Kronk’s to his biggest fans – players from the national football team.

Itumeleng Khune, Teko Modise, Katlego Mphela and Siphiwe Tshabalala made a guest appearance to meet the creative brains behind the locally-flavoured collection rooted in football.

The players also showcased the collection, which features: N98 Track Jacket, AW77 hoodie, kit tee, polo shirt, Nike Dunk high top and Nike Lunar Chukka.

Kronk is one of six international artists who collaborated with Nike Sportswear, to create alternative national team kits that flip the script on the classic football kit. The artists are: Nunca from Brasil, James Jarvis from England, So-Me from France, Delta from Netherlands, Mister Cartoon from the USA, and Kronk representing South Africa.

Each artist had to contribute a badge or crest, mascot, print and typeface in their own unique style.

“For the crest, I looked at all the PSL teams logos, and decided that if our national side is made up from these teams, I would recreate and unify all these logos around uniquely South African influenced elements,” said Kronk, of his design.

The mascot draws the most attention as this two-headed vuvuzela-wielding character is part fan, part player, leaving.

“Nike Sportswear creates a new expression of style and the Bleed Your Colours campaign is the perfect example of how we are celebrating the beautiful game of football, in a way that connects to the national team fans who dwell at the intersection of sports and culture,” said Kemi Benjamin, Nike Sportswear Brand Manager.

The campaign is further supported by a locally produced viral which has the Bleed Your Colours kicking off in Johannesburg. Kronk’s designs coming to life as Mzansi literally begins to bleed with the green, black and yellow of the national flag seeping through the city. Khune makes a cameo appearance with Kronk.

The Nike Sportswear South African collection will be in available from Friday, 7th May in leading retail, including Gallery on 4th in Melville and Nike Sportswear Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront.