WE THE PEOPLE

The day after Nike’s private reception at the Commitment exhibition, and the day before I flew out to Santa Monica to catch Kobe pull up at Undefeated in Marty McFly’s time-traveling DeLorean stocked with the very first ten pairs of the 2015 Hyperdunks, I was cruising down the East River towards Liberty Island documenting the private unveiling of the 2008 United States men’s basketball uniforms.

With the past week spent with the Men’s Olympic team still fresh in my mind and today being the 4th of July, I feel our nation’s day of independence has taken on some additional meaning. More than just fireworks, bar-b-cues, and time spent with family and friends, the 4th of July also marks the independence of our country from the crown of England. This day also celebrates our liberty as citizens and our freedom as a country. Our independence is an affirmation of who we are as a people and what we stand for as a country. As our nation comes together and prepares for the Olympic summer games in Beijing this coming August, spending time with the players while they were in New York City reminded me of the characteristics that define our great nation – strength, valor, heart, leadership, and commitment.

Previewing the Olympic uniforms our men’s basketball team will compete in during the summer games, you can’t help but notice how much thought and detail went into both the design and construction of the uniform. As previously mentioned in my United We Rise post, the uniform was designed around the history of the United States. Centered across each players chest are oversized USA letters embroidered onto the uniform. The “A” which is stitched right over the heart, has a five-pointed star emblazoned on it, same as on our nation’s flag, which also represents the fifty states. Together, these details idealize our nation’s united spirit of patriotism that each player takes with them when they wear their uniforms to compete in the Olympic games.

On the reverse side of the jersey is a tribal inspired graphic called “We the People.” While the Declaration of Independence, Liberty Bell, and the Statue of Liberty are symbols of our freedom, the “We the People” graphic is a symbolic tale of perseverance and strength. Inspired by the history of our nation, the details are what make this graphic even more unique. On closer inspection you’ll find stylized pictograms of an Olympic torch, stars, stripes, the year 1776, basketballs, olive branches, arrows, and a bleeding heart with thorns. The graphic is meant to communicate the two sides of patriotism – love for your country and a commitment to its ideals. Just as much consideration was given to the technical side of the team’s uniforms. Comprising new materials and manufacturing techniques, the uniforms have been designed with unique material making it more lightweight and breathable.

The construction and design of the Team USA uniforms were created with the same values that are shared by our men’s team and our nation as a whole. These uniforms are all at once, well considered, beautifully designed, and innovative. As our celebration of our independence comes to a close with a spectacular fireworks show along the East river I can’t help but imagine our men’s Olympic basketball team at the medal ceremony standing tall and proud accepting their gold medals on behalf of all of us, Americans… United We Stand.

Happy 4th of July!