For the couple of weeks that the FIFA Soccer World Cup will be running, South Africa is going to be the centre of the world. With the tournament a mere 34 days away, sportswear giant Nike has teamed up with awesome designer/illustrator Kronk (Cape Town FTW!) to create a range of clothing that represents Mzansi and our love for the beautiful game.
Nike released a 30-second spot showing Mzansi “bleed its colours” with the greens, blacks, and yellows of the national flag seeping through the city. Kronk plays a little cameo in the clip, check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHA4A760iFw
Kronk is one of six international artists who collaborated with Nike Sportswear to create an alternative national team kit. He was asked to make a crest, mascot, print, and typeface in his unique style. His designs were revealed at a media launch that happened earlier this week. For more info and images on that, hit the jump.
At the media event Bafana Bafana players Itumeleng Khune, Teko Modise and Siphiwe Tshabalala all shared the spotlight with Kronk and officially unveiled the collaboration. Photographer Justin McGee was on hand to capture the festivities. Here’s a couple of shots that he took.
Kronk’s mascot is a two-headed vuvuzela-wielding character which is one part fan, one part player, and all kinds of awesome.
And here’s a look at the crest.
When asked about the motivation for the crest, Kronk says:
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.
The Nike Sportswear x Kronk collection features an N98 Track Jacket, AW77 hoodie, kit tee, polo shirt, Nike Dunk high top, and Nike Lunar Chukka. It launches today in retail shops. It’s also available at Gallery on 4th in Melville and Nike Sportswear Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront.
Update (May 12th): Earlier we showed you a quick 30-second spot released by Nike Sportswear for its collaboration with Kronk. That teaser led to the media event, which then led to the clothing line being launched. We’ve just received the full length video that closes off our Nike x Kronk journey quite nicely. With less than a month to go to the Soccer World Cup, we see more of Kronk’s energetic, chaotic mascot running around the streets as Mzansi literally bleeds its colours in anticipation of the world’s biggest soccer tournament. Check it out below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPqTwpseduU
For more info on the Nike Sportswear x Kronk Collection, hit up Nike on .