The Canadian Premier League kicked preparations for its fourth season into high gear on Thursday, March 17, as they unveiled new home kits for all eight of its clubs, manufactured by Macron.
The kits are all made of Macron’s Eco Fabrics, which are made from 100% recycled plastic and can itself be repeatedly recycled. Each shirt uses the equivalent of 13 500mL plastic bottles.
“Each new season substantiates the value and importance of a project like the Canadian Premier League, and we are particularly proud to have been part of it since its inception,” said Macron CEO Gianluca Pavanello on the CPL’s website. “The friendship and respect built in recent years have been essential to working in perfect harmony and creating unique collections every year. Among the values that we share, respect for the environment is fundamental: the work that goes into designing and creating jerseys in Eco-Fabric made from 100% recycled plastic, in this sense, confirms the joint commitment we have to greater environmental sustainability.”
All kits feature the league slogan “We are Many, We are One” printed on the back collar and the league mission statement “For Canadians, By Canadians” inside the collar. Macron logos appear on the sleeves and chest.
PACIFIC FC (Victoria, B.C.)
Pacific FC’s retro-style, primarily purple jersey is inspired by the roots that run deep throughout Vancouver Island. Iti is designed to connect the Island and the club as one. A sublimated design of the Douglas fir runs throughout the front of the jersey.
— CanPL.ca
As 2021 CPL champions, Pacific FC will wear the new gold North Star Badge above its crest this season.
CAVALRY FC (Calgary, Alta.)
The 2022 Macron home kit features a predominantly red jersey and subtly incorporates pops of white and regimental green in the collar and sleeves. Representing the shapes found in much of the of the region’s architecture, landmarks and natural history, a unique pattern of diamonds and triangles is featured in a sublimated print as a nod to the shapes seen in structures past and present, both manmade and natural. The front of the jersey proudly showcases a regimental sash.
— CanPL.ca
FC EDMONTON (Edmonton, Alta.)
Continuing the team’s tradition of the recognizable classic royal blue, the Eddies’ 2022 primary jersey is inspired by the Alberta flag. Alberta’s capital city jersey pays homage to the province’s coat of arms with hints of green that represent their forests, gold for the wheat fields, and a pop of wild rose pink, Alberta’s official flower. A nod to the clear blue skies of Alberta is featured prominently with a unique jacquard print throughout.
— CanPL.ca
VALOUR FC (Winnipeg, Man.)
Valour FC’s 2022 jersey concept is simple – bold and strong. It revisits the classic black jersey with valour maroon accented on the right sleeve and pops of the recognizable harvest gold throughout in a jersey designed to represent the strength and power of the team in a simple design.
— CanPL.ca
FORGE FC (Hamilton, Ont.)
The 2022 primary jersey has Forge FC returning to the club’s roots with a primarily all-orange kit inspired by the sparks from the strike of a hammer. It represents the energy, ambition and hard work of the Hamilton community. The sparks are featured prominently throughout the front of the jersey with pops of dark orange and grey in a tone-on-tone sublimated print. It also includes dark orange flames at the bottom of the jersey. The city of Hamilton pride is highlighted on the back of the jersey.
— CanPL.ca
Forge FC will be the only club to wear the league’s new Legacy Patch on its sleeve this season, honouring its CPL championships in 2019 and 2020.
YORK UNITED (Toronto, Ont.)
York United’s 2022 shirt features the club’s iconic primary colours: York Green, Lake Ontario Blue and Victory Gold. Inspired by the roads and rivers leading from the northern forests of York to Toronto’s downtown skyscrapers, the details are encompassed by a bold striped pattern on the jersey front.
— CanPL.ca
ATLÉTICO OTTAWA (Ottawa, Ont.)
The kit builds upon the tribute to the club’s parent company, Atlético Madrid, in a nod to their history while incorporating the city Atlético Ottawa calls home. Ottawa is uniquely acknowledged through a subtle sublimated inverted “V” chevron design within the 2022 primary jersey’s Federal Red stripes representing the Rideau Canal Locks or Ottawa Locks. The back of the jersey features a large red Maple Leaf, which will be visible under the player numbers, a nod to the club’s Canadian identity.
— CanPL.ca
HFX WANDERERS FC (Halifax, N.S.)
Inspired by the waves in the HFX Wanderers logo, a unique ocean pattern is embossed on the front of the dark blue jersey. HFX’s 2022 Macron primary jersey features aqua blue accents throughout the front and back. It’s a simple and clean representation in the recognizable blues the Wanderers are known for. Individually, we are one droplet; together, we are the ocean.
— CanPL.ca
Along with the new home kits, the CPL also unveiled a new font for names and numbers on Thursday. The block font is inspired by the Canadian men’s national team that qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Mexico.
The horizontal line cutting through the letters and digits represents the 49th parallel, the line of longitude that forms much of Canada’s border with the United States and runs through all 10 provinces. Each digit also contains the CPL logo and a sublimated pattern of maple leaves.
The 2022 Canadian Premier League season kicks off on Thursday, April 7, when York United host HFX Wanderers FC at York Lions Stadium in Toronto. Other opening weekend fixtures include:
- Atlético Ottawa v Cavalry FC;
- FC Edmonton v Valour FC; and
- Pacific FC v Forge FC.
All photos courtesy Canadian Premier League