I’m spending the summer in New York, and in the past three weeks, the city has become run by sports. During the Knicks finals run, every conversation was about the team, and the streets were filled with passionate fans. Now that the NBA Finals are over, the World Cup has taken over. As I walk around the city, there’s a sea of rainbow for the countless fans supporting their countries. Besides the happiness and hope in the air, fans are debuting looks that I can’t keep my eyes off. Today I will be discussing the role of fashion in sports. More specifically, I will discuss how fashion empowers fans and makes supporting a team more accessible.
When big sporting events are happening, I always see stores selling jerseys and merchandise at outrageous prices. In spite of this, fans still show up to games and watch parties in impeccable outfits. On top of that, there are so many smaller artists and business owners that sell more affordable and unique merchandise. I love when people use fashion as a form of community building. The role of fashion in sports and fan wear has so many positive impacts.
Supporting a Team is More Accessible
It’s so difficult for someone of average means to support their favorite teams nowadays. I watched an video recently where an interviewer asked Knicks fans how much they paid for their Finals tickets. The prices were outrageous. Individuals tickets went for tens of thousands of dollars. Imagine paying that much for ticket, then having to pay $60 plus for a t-shirt or jersey. It’s unfathomable, but I applaud all of the fans that take a different route.
Across the city, so many Knicks are dressed in blue and orange, but in a more personalized way. They may be wearing Knicks merch, but they still make it their own which I admire. I have never seen a mass of people wearing the same shirt for a Knicks game. Each person spices it up a little by wearing an interesting shoe or bottom to make the outfit pop more. Other people dress a little more discretely by wearing the Knicks colors, but using the clothes in their closet. I would see people on the street dressed in blue and orange, and immediately know they’re a Knicks fan. To a regular passerby, they probably won’t notice, but a Knicks fan would which is heartwarming. Things like that connect fans, and make them feel like they’re part of something larger than themselves.
We’re at a time in the US where everything is becoming more and more inaccessible to the normal person including community. We’re seeing it in the rising costs of tickets for sports events and fan merchandise, but community should be accessible to all. This is why it is so important for fans to use their creativity to support their favorite teams in their own way.
Smaller Artists and Business Owners Get Time in the Spotlight
When I did see fans wearing Knicks merch, it was oftentimes not the official licensed merch. They wore shirts they bought from a street vendor the week leading up to the game. I know some people don’t support individuals selling unlicensed merch, but it’s also important to understand the full situation. Not everyone can afford a Knicks shirt from a licensed retailer. Even if they can, not everyone wants to wear the same shirt. That’s where smaller artists, and business owners come in. They sell the merch Nike and other official retailers aren’t creative enough to sell, and often at an affordable price. Some vendors sold Knicks shirts for as little as $20 which is perfect especially for someone on a budget.
Besides, the normal cotton shirts with designs on them, many artists have used their craft to create unique Knicks merch. I recently saw a video of a man airbrushing beautiful one of a kind Knicks designs on apparel for people. Though buying from a smaller artists may be a little more expensive than buying a simple t shirt, you’re buying something that will hold much more sentimental value in the future. You won’t cherish a basic shirt as opposed to a handmade piece from a smaller artist that is passionate about what they make.
New York in particular has so many small businesses which is why they should be supported first before the bigger corporations. Many people often think that buying from a small business is more expensive than buying from a big business, and sometimes that is true, but not always. There are times when you’re walking on the street, and you see someone selling $20 Knicks shirts. They may not be official, but if they make someone feel like they’re a real fan, that’s all that matters.
As the World Cup unfolds, I can’t wait to see all of the looks and community amongst fans from the same countries and between fans from different countries. Fashion in sports has such a powerful way to bring people together, and I hope it continues to build bridges and unite people who may not have imagined having something in common. That’s all for this post. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new ones. Stay sharp 😉