NFL collaborates with fashion designer Humberto Leon to celebrate Pride Month
June is Pride Month, a time specifically set aside to honor the identity, rights, and inclusion of LGBTQ people in our nation, and a time to celebrate their place in history and in the future. To help celebrate Pride Month, the National Football League (NFL) collaborated with fashion designer Humberto Leon to create the NFL’s first-ever Pride capsule merchandise collection.
Co-founder of the retail brand Opening Ceremony, known for its seasonal drops, collaborations, and dedicated fans, Humberto Leon has become a pillar within the fashion industry. His award-winning creative direction has been associated with brands such as Kenzo, H&M, Coach, and Vans. Throughout his career, Leon’s work has been rooted in collaboration with the ultimate goal of bringing people closer together at the intersection of culture, art, and fashion.Â
“Football is an integral part of the American landscape, and the NFL has shown the ability to bring people together to root, cheer, and celebrate together. While growing up in Los Angeles as a Raiders fan, I loved being able to showcase my hometown pride,” said Humberto Leon.
“Working with the NFL on their first capsule collection tied to the celebration of LGBTQ pride was a full circle moment in my career, and I am eager to share a collection that embodies football, love, and inclusivity.”
The collection, launching yesterday on NFLshop.com, features NFL-licensed products comprising of Starter t-shirts and jackets, New Era caps, Northwest by Certo cropped fashion tops, and Wincraft decals and rally towels with the NFL shield alongside Leon’s designs to commemorate the uniqueness of the LGBTQ community. As a way to tie the collection together and to showcase inclusivity in football, pieces from the collection will feature the taglines “Football is Love” and “Football for Everyone” in a rainbow ombre design.
In addition, pieces from the collection will be worn by the NFL’s employee resource group, NFL PRIDE, while participating in this month’s Pride Marches in New Jersey (June 8), Los Angeles (June 11), and New York (June 25). Leon will also help design the wrap for the bus the NFL will ride on during the NY Pride March.
“The NFL aims to create product that celebrates the universal love of football, and with the launch of our first-ever Pride capsule collection of NFL-licensed merchandise designed by Humberto Leon, we can champion that football is for everyone,” said Dan Devece, NFL Senior Director of Consumer Products Planning & Strategy, and member of NFL PRIDE.
“As an active member of the LGBTQ community and an NFL fan, combined with his impressive fashion background, Leon was able to create an authentic collection that will resonate with fans and deepen our connection with the LGBTQ community.”
The capsule collection is part of the NFL’s ongoing support for the LGBTQ community and allies. The NFL provides annual financial support and partnership to organizations that focus on the LGBTQ community, including The Trevor Project, GLAAD, Athlete Ally, and the National Gay Football League. For more information on the NFL’s Pride efforts, visit, nfl.com/pride.
And as many in our nation celebrate and honor Pride Month, there is a backlash going on in some circles that includes hate crimes and violence. For more on those not loving Pride Month, see the video accompanying this article
(Source: NFL)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
