LINE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON PISTONS313SHOP.COM STARTING FEBRUARY 23, PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS THE JOE LOUIS FOUNDATION
DETROIT – Feb 22, 2022 – Today, the Detroit Pistons continue their activations centered around Black History Month with the unveiling of a new merchandise collaboration inspired by Detroit boxing great Joe Louis. The club worked alongside the Louis family and Mitchell & Ness on storytelling, strategy and design for the new merchandise line. The line will be available at Pistons313Shop.com starting February 23, and at the team store in Little Caesars Arena on February 24 (select styles only).
Pistons Vice President of Marketing & Brand Strategy Tyrel Kirkham described the collaboration as a way for Detroiters and sports fans alike to celebrate the championship history of a sports icon and legend.
“Joe Louis’ transcendent career embodies the spirit and history of Detroit,” said Kirkham. “We always view merchandise collaborations as an opportunity to create more than just t-shirts and jerseys – we want them to represent the city that surrounds us and the culture that makes Detroit such a special place. The legacy that Joe Louis carries is something the Pistons organization is honored to share and celebrate.”
In 1926, at the age of 12, Louis and his family moved to Detroit. Louis’ historic boxing career launched here, as he rose from the ranks of amateur champion to world heavyweight champion. Louis held the heavyweight crown a historic 12 years and is largely considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. More than just a champion in the ring, Louis was a civil rights icon – he transcended the race barriers that plagued professional sports in his era. In 1986, the Monument to Joe Louis, also known as “The Fist”, was installed in Detroit’s Hart Plaza as a symbolic celebration of Louis’ place in history.
The son of Joe Louis, Joe Louis Barrow, II, expressed gratitude towards his father’s legacy and the lasting impact it has had on the city of Detroit and organizations such as the Pistons.
“My family and I are grateful that the Detroit Pistons and the City of Detroit continue to do their part by remembering and highlighting my father and all those great men and women who came before us in an effort to inspire those currently in the global arena,” said Louis Barrow, II.
The Detroit Pistons’ celebration of Black History Month has included a variety of activations and partnerships throughout the month of February. To kick off the month, the Pistons partnered with Rosa Parks Estate to honor the civil rights icon, providing free bus fare to all Detroiters throughout the city on multiple days, and gifting 500 Rosa Parks inspired jackets to Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) drivers. On-going and upcoming activations include an “HBCU Night” at Little Caesars Arena when the Pistons host the Boston Celtics on February 26, a team visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. on February 28, in-game honoring of prominent Detroit creatives and leaders in our community during game nights throughout the month and the 17th Annual Black History Month Scholarship Event where high school seniors in Detroit will have an opportunity to earn $50,000 in scholarships.
