OP ED: MLS & ADIDAS TEAM UP W/ PARLEY FOR THE OCEANS
Google “ocean plastic” and you’ll be taken down a disturbing wormhole of images of whales that starved and died from plastic ingestion, trash-riddled waves, and something called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. You don’t have to be an internet sleuth to figure out that plastic pollution in the oceans is a serious problem. Parley for the Oceans is looking for ways to combat the problems facing our oceans. From their website, “Parley is the space where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.”
Parley for the Oceans is looking for ways to combat the problems facing our oceans. From their website, “Parley is the space where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.”
Parley has already partnered with adidas on a number of sneakers made from repurposed ocean plastic and even collaborated with MLS last year creating kits for four clubs made from technical yarns using Parley Ocean Plastic.
This year MLS and adidas link up with Parley once again just in time for Earth Day with an even more expansive collab. This year’s partnership, in conjunction with MLS WORKS Greener Goals, is part of the League-wide efforts on and off the field to highlight MLS’ commitment to environmental sustainability. All 23 teams will feature the adidas’ MLS Parley kits during Earth Day weekend, Friday, April 20 through Sunday, April 22. The 2018 edition comes in two colorways, non-dye and carbon, differentiating the two teams in each game.
This year’s kits maintain the classy, muted color palette employed in last year’s models. The subtle colorways devoid of major design embellishments that will be seen on all of the kits worn by MLS squads this weekend bring a sense of unity. For this weekend the attention will be shifted from individual design elements putting the focus on Parley and the great work they are doing. An added bonus of the understated kits is their accessibility and extreme wearability. It is easy to rock a gray or white shirt with pretty much any fit. Picking up the Parley kit of your favorite club is a way to keep it clean, both in terms of style and your impact on the ocean.
We applaud the work adidas has done with Parley and continues to do. Hopefully, as technology advances, we will see Parley Ocean Plastic used in more and more products. There seems to be no shortage of supply of plastic in our waters that can be repurposed for something positive. Make sure to catch an MLS match this weekend and see your favorite players rocking their environmentally conscious threads. Head over to mlsstore.com to get a Parley x MLS kit.
