As the 2015 adidas Fanatic Tournament blows up in Berlin, London, NYC and Tokyo, design duo Craig & Karl teamed up with the sportswear giant to create a tank top commemorating the event. Like the tournaments of previous years, the 2015 event—in celebration of the World Cup—will see teams from NYC cultural institutions going head to head at the Pier 5 playing field this weekend.
Craig & Karl (aka NYC-based Craig Redman and London-based Karl Maier) were approached by adidas, and, while the brief from the brand wasn’t strict, the designers had a clear view in mind of their message. “We wanted the artwork to reflect the team and community-driven nature of the event, with people coming together to play sport and have fun,” Craig & Karl tell CH. “We did this by turning the three stripes into legs, and visually treating each leg differently so that it reads as players from different teams coming together to create a community of sorts. The various patterns on the stripes are intended to be our take on team socks. Rather than three simple stripes, let’s make them as chaotic and fun as possible.”
We’re suckers for adidas during the ’70s
The back of the tank is just as audacious and bright, with the year and list of cities taking part in the Fanatic. The colors and type combine to create a retro-future vibe that’s playful but design-minded, “We’re suckers for adidas during the ’70s,” they say. “Both the footwear and apparel had lots of simple shapes and colors and that is pretty reflective of our work today. We try to create bold work that is filled with simple messages executed in a thoughtful and humorous way and this kind of ideology was very evident in that era.”
Craig & Karl + adidas’ Fanatic 2015 tank is only available at the event as a gift from the brand. The NYC Fanatic will take place this Saturday, 18 July at Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO. All the action kicks off at 1PM.
Images courtesy of adidas