Adidas Gear Embarrassment
Alright, I'm not normally one to bash Adidas. I have actually supported Adidas where others have screamed ZOMG BRING BACK NIKE!!!11 but after seeing some of the "new" gear for 2011, I have officially abandoned Adidas.
For example, this hat looks like it was designed by a mom and pop souvenir shop in a small town for a high school with 200 students or a Meijer product:
And in white, with the mesh back:
Seriously? This is getting horrible. I understand the contract aspect, money and everything else but their apparel design is really going downhill.
Well let's not pretend that Adidas is paying what they do because they love the football team.
You are right though, that as soon as Phil Knight convinces DB that having helmets with flames for wings and wearing all brown uniforms that simulate a wolverine would make more money, he'll bite.
Oh god not this again. Every single one of our gear sponsors has offerred a wide selection of hats and t-shirts, and every single one has produced at least some that are hideous.
The Nike fetishism is ridiculous. If you take the swooshes and stripes off your average piece of athletic apparel, most people wouldn't note a damn bit of difference in the quality of each company's top-end gear (or low end gear - a poly-cotton blend t-shirt is a poly-cotton blend t-shirt). They're all made at some sweatshop in Sri Lanka or wherever anyway. THE BRAND OF GEAR DOES NOT MEANINGFULLY AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR TEAM. I can't believe that everyone here is not only openly gulping down a marketing compaign for a gear company, but are proud of that fact.
And as for the color maize, do a little experiment at the end of the summer. Go to your local grocery store and grab a fresh ear of Michigan sweet corn. Peel back the husk. Compare the color to the latest Adidas jersey and then to that orange-yellow color everyone seems to love so much. Tell me which one is more like "maize".
The fact is that the maize on the jerseys has been getting progressively brighter for years, not just since the Adidas era. Why? Frankly, it looks better on TV - better contrast with the blue, "pops" better on the grass, etc. It's not a grand conspiracy by Adidas to destroy Michigan heritage. Now, you may prefer the old orange-yellow color, but it's a personal preference, not a god-given tradition.
that the gear doesn't affect team performance, but good heavens is it hideous. Nike's offerings when we were still with them were far better. The classic navy and maize turnstile hat that Carr favored? Awesome. The two above? Abominations.
They may be made in the same place, but the designs don't seem to be coming from the same place. There are a few (FEW!) offerings by Adidas that don't make me wistful for Nike, but my M gear purchases have slid significantly since Adidas took over just because I can't find styles I like.
It's a personal preference thing, don't take it so personally.
Expensive, yes, but the fits are true and the designs are simple, yet sell-able.
I'm not a fan of Nike. Sizes are hard to figure out. And F Phil Knight anyway.
Before I get negged to hell for bring a bot or a troll, please check out my posting history. I don't represent this company, and this is probably the last post I'll make advocating their gear.
But I love '47's hats. They're comfortable, durable, and have a classic and relaxed look. I especially like the blue one.
Agreed. I have an olde English D Tigers hat made by them. Fit is great, super durable, and its simple but classy. They wear well over time (as they're pre-worn), and they're very affordable.
The Adidas clothing fits great but the hats are very small. Their L/XL stretch fit hats fit like those litlle baseball ice cream helemts.
Nah, it's just that we Michigan fans have big heads.
I love the climalite shirts. Own 9 of them- a pair of short and long sleeve in each of blue, maize and gray.
Adidas is part of the rebel alliance and traitor! Take it away!!
And that's all that matters to me.
And yes, those hats are terrible.
Regardless of brand, those hats are just awful. They look like something you'd find at a dollar store. Who knows, they may end up there....
Where is the link to the new apparel?
commercialism as it is Adidas. They think they have to mess with a thing endlessly rather than just respect it. (In the book biz we call it "refreshing the product," but Michigan doesn't need refreshing--Oklahoma State and Louisville do.) Nike is, to my mind, doing the same thing with a lot of schools. (Camouflage unis? Come on.)
And yeah--disgustingly bad. Right down to not getting the colors right.
It's less "refreshing the brand" and more "hope to make everyone buy moar Michigan crap". Sure, you could just make the classic blue-with-block-M cap, but your average fan already has one and only replaces it once every few years, if that.
I have A LOT of old Nike Michigan gear Woodson , Henne and Brady Jerseys. I Love the colors and Block M, but Adidas has not put out one piece of gear I remotely liked. I now buy my U of M gear online to get old Nike products. We want to support the school by wearing and buying new stuff but eck seriously , do we have an out for that Adidas contract?
this is a great sweatshirt. I got a grey hockey hoodie and this at the hockey garage sale for $20 ea. Point being, there's good and bad no matter what corporate logo is on the front
they just don't care.
-Brought to you by "No Shit"
these hats are sooo lame....and yea i want the old maize back...for realz
No doubt about it. These hats could and need to be better. Step your game up Adidas.