Nike, Inc. and USA Hockey showcased the look of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games at the team’s orientation camp Monday (Aug. 17) in Woodridge, Illinois. The “Nike We the People Graphic” emblazoned on the blue jersey was originally unveiled in Beijing and draws inspiration from a number of cultural elements and design influences to create a bold aesthetic specific to the USA. The graphic, created by Design Director Mark Smith, was highlighted in the 2008 USA Basketball, Track and Field, Softball and BMX team uniforms, and is now an integral part of the 2010 USA Hockey jersey.
When creating the graphic, Nike designers were drawn to tattoos as the first point of inspiration, specifically looking at how the graphic design could align directly to the athlete’s body. The multi-faceted graphic tells the story of many cultures coming together under the common theme of victory. Just like a tattoo on the body, the pattern of the graphic is darker than the base color surrounding it.
Specific elements of the design include:
In addition to the blue jersey and the traditional white jersey, both featuring Nike Swift technology, the team also elected to resurrect a third jersey, a replica of the jersey worn at the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, Calif., where the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team won its first-ever gold medal.
Team USA jerseys will be sold in Nike stores across the United States, online at www.nikestore.com and www.vancouver2010.com.