Sounders new jerseys appropriately represent Seattle

The design of the new kits has a distinct Seattle style that the club will wear over the next two seasons.

When the Sounders FC unveiled their shield in April of 2008, the image of the Space Needle as a centerpiece to the logo was important, putting front and center the most iconic landmark of the city of Seattle. The logo was even unveiled at the Space Needle as the Sounders were presented with the name for their franchise, which was previously recognized as simply MLS Seattle.

On Wednesday, the Sounders unveiled their new kits for the 2013 season and again the Space Needle is prominent.

Seattle’s primary Rave Green kit now features an embossed silhouette of the landmark on the right side of the jersey top and the club’s logo on the left chest.

The secondary kit, which remains Cascade Shale, features a streak down the left side of interwoven Rave Green and Sounders Blue, along with the emblematic crest.

“I love the green and the spirit of the green, but anytime that we get to put this on, which is a rarity, it’s always something that we take pride in,” said midfielder Brad Evans, who modeled the kits along with Eddie Johnson, Mauro Rosales and Steve Zakuani, with Michael Gspurning showing the all white goalkeeper jersey.

The new jerseys were displayed by Sounders players at Cinerama in Seattle before a premier showing of owner Joe Roth’s latest movie release, “Oz the Great and Powerful.”

They took note of the lightweight design and adidas global product soccer manager Mike Walker explained the reengineered design.

“It’s the lightest fabric we have ever done in an MLS jersey before,” he said, noting that adidas used thermal bonding to hem the jerseys without any stitching, helping to make the jerseys 27-percent lighter.

The jerseys are the seventh and eighth kits the Sounders FC has worn. In 2009 and 2010, they wore Rave Green and Sounder Blue kits. Then in 2011 and 2012, they switched to one Rave Green kit and one Cascade Shale kit. In between, they also used the yellow Electricity alternate kits in 2010 and 2011 and are in the second year of the Super Cyan alternate jerseys.

Matt Gaschk is the Seattle Sounders FC Insider. Check out his Rave Green Blog for news and notes concerning all things Sounders!

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