Bold color scheme and dragon-inspired details dominate the new “Community Kit”.
A true global icon was the inspiration for the second Seattle Sounders community kit. While Wednesday’s Bruce Lee kit unveiling wasn’t exactly a surprise thanks to various leaks and teasers, it was nonetheless impressive to see the new uniform in all its glory as all the details and inspirations were fleshed out.
The kit’s unveiling coincides with the 50th anniversary of Lee’s death and the release of Enter the Dragon, widely recognized as one of the greatest martial arts films of all time.
This is hardly the first football shirt to use the Chinese dragon, but the presentation, which focuses more on its scales and body than the head, seems unique in the football world. The scale pattern appears to be hand drawn and includes other tailored details such as Bruce Lee’s signature as a jock tag and his “core symbol” at the back of the neck.
The kit was developed in collaboration with Lee’s daughter Shannon and the Bruce Lee Foundation. Similar to the Jimi Hendrix kit this replaces, up to $50,000 of proceeds from the first 30 days of sale will be donated to the Bruce Lee Foundation and the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle. The funds are earmarked for youth programs and a curriculum that emphasizes Lee’s teachings related to football, movement and the arts, as well as expanding opportunities for youth programs and experiences sharing Lee’s teachings across Washington state.
In addition to their $50,000 investment, the Sounders are committed to building a mini-plaza in collaboration with the Bruce Lee Foundation and the Wing Luke Museum in 2024 to celebrate Lee’s teachings.
“I’m so honored that the Sounders wanted to create this kit around my father’s legacy and that it’s not just a kit, it’s a whole collaboration that includes community impact and true legacy,” Shannon said in one press release. “My dad has a deep and loving history with Seattle as a place of learning, teaching, friendship, growth, inspiration, love and ultimately rest. And so it feels opportune to come together with the Sounders to not only represent him as the dragon he was, but to reflect him deeper into the community that helped shape him so fundamentally.”
Born in San Francisco and raised in Hong Kong, Lee moved to Seattle to finish high school and then attended the University of Washington, where he met his wife, Linda. Apparently he considered Seattle his home and opened his first martial arts studio here. He is now buried in Lake View Cemetery.
“This uniform is a totally unique look for the club and we are proud to bring the inspirational life and teachings of Bruce Lee to the pitch,” said Adrian Hanauer, majority owner of Sounders, in a team statement. “It has been an honor for the club to work hand-in-hand with Shannon Lee, the Bruce Lee Family Company and the Bruce Lee Foundation to develop such a beautiful and distinctive tribute to their beloved family member and Sounders FC look forward to the promotion of consciously working in the community to bring Bruce’s story and teachings to life.”
The red, black and yellow colors are a notable departure from previous Sounders kits in the MLS era, but are not entirely new to the organization. During the USL era, the Sounders used red jerseys in at least two seasons.
In addition to the kit, the Sounders also released a companion “Lifestyle” line, which includes a bomber jacket, two scarves, and several sweatshirts.
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