Ahhhhhh, what a glorious day, an occasion in which many of us wondered would even happen at all this year in April…MLB OPENING DAY.
Likewise, what fortuitous timing that today also marks the debut of a very special apparel drop - the RSVLTS x Jackie Robinson collection.
While the gear is mostly baseball related (ahead of Jackie Robison day on 4/15 as well), Jackie’s legacy as a humanitarian, civil rights reformer and leader of many political pursuits geared toward breaking color barriers goes much deeper and casts a much wider net than sports alone, which absolutely must be revered and we gave a nod toward on one of the shirts.
For all his efforts and actions, it goes without saying: Jack Roosevelt Robinson is one of the greatest Americans of all-time, bar none.
And in terms of his early baseball journey, fun fact: before his major league Brooklyn Dodgers debut, Jackie’s first game took place in the great state of New Jersey. As history serves, on April 18, 1946, Roosevelt Stadium hosted the Jersey City Giants' season opener against the Montreal Royals, which marked the professional debut of the Royals' Jackie Robinson and the first time the color barrier had been broken in a game between two minor league clubs (which of course led to a numerous other barrier breaking moments).
There’s currently a commemorative statue of Robinson out the outskirts of Journal Square in Jersey City (near the PATH train) related to the occasion.
For today’s drop, the two shirt KUNUFLEX™ collection “Hate to Lose” (featuring artwork by renown Brooklyn-based writer/artist, Damion Scott) and “The Jackie Scrapbook” (the latter also includes a women’s 2.0 style KUNU) features many vivid flashbacks of Jackie’s larger-than-life endeavors throughout his years in baseball and beyond.
Shoutout to actor and creator, Dale Moss, for modeling and championing the new collection items. You can view some additional BTS content from the shoot and some of his own thoughts on Jackie’s legacy later on Dale’s Instagram channel.
Full lookbook below!
