South African fashion designer Thebe Magugu is the man behind the Orlando Pirates Home and Away jersey for the 23/24 season.
Growing up in the South African cities of Kimberley and Johannesburg, Thebe Magugu uses as inspiration, Africa’s storied past, complex present, and imagined future. Thebe Magugu said the global sport is a phenomenon that will continue to rise.
“It’s fascinating to see other industries align uniquely to become a part of it from music to luxury fashion. My brand is all about exploring and bringing to light unique facets of our history and culture, and none has left more of an impact than the legacy of Orlando Pirates, and I am honoured to contribute so significantly to that history,” said Thebe Magugu.
The Orlando Pirates x Thebe Magugu 23/24 range consists of two new designs: a Home jersey (Black) and an Away jersey (Pistachio Green). Both feature the legendary Orlando Pirates skull and crossbow logo reimagined to incorporate a captivating maze pattern. The jersey rounds off with a Thebe Magugu back-neck sign-off and a unique raised crest.
“I felt like it was important to hear the Orlando Pirates story before I began designing. A tale of perseverance, fighting against the odds to become one of the most recognised figureheads in global sports. This idea of persistence is why I decided to treat the iconic skull logo as a maze. To symbolise the long and winding journey the team has travelled to land them here,” said Thebe Magugu.
Speaking to the scaled-up skull on the front of the jersey, he said he wanted to add a confrontational and intimidating edge that communicated power without saying a word.
“Football is a unifier of people from very different backgrounds, races, religions, and beliefs who are all bound in their common love of the phenomenon.”
Thandi Merafe, Media and Public Relations Manager at Orlando Pirates, said a football jersey stands as a powerful emblem of pride and togetherness, binding Buccaneers from diverse backgrounds into a unified force.
“As we set forth on a new football season, that includes the CAF Champions League, we carry Thebe Magugu’s exceptional creation on our shoulders, a true testament to our proudly South African identity and unity,” said Merafe.
Players will debut the 2023/4 jersey on the field in Stellenbosch on Saturday 5 August 2023.
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