New York Cosmos Umbro Blackout Collection

(Manchester, England 2011) Umbro pays homage to one of the most significant moments in New York City history, the Blackout of 1977, with its New York Cosmos Blackout collection for Autumn/Winter 2011. It is now available at World Soccer Shop.

Applying its tailoring ethos to a new black-on-black range, Umbro has created an off-field collection building on the current New York Cosmos collection.

On 13th July 1977, legendary Brazilian footballer Carlos Alberto Torres arrived in New York to play for The New York Cosmos and reunite with his Brazilian teammate, Pelé.

At 8.53pm that evening, the city that never sleeps stood still in darkness as an electrical blackout swept across New York City.

The blackout will not only be remembered for the chaos that hit the city, but also for feeding the burgeoning Hip-Hop movement of the time. New beats and sounds flowed throughout the street parties which popped up across the five boroughs while the lights were out and gave rise to a new culture.

It is this amazing true story that inspired the Umbro design team to ‘blackout’ new pieces for The New York Cosmos collection, creating a modern and pinnacle range of sportswear items that reflects this legendary moment in New York history and pays tribute to a Cosmos Legend in Carlos Alberto Torres.

The New York Cosmos Blackout collection celebrates the understated elegance of applying black to an otherwise colourful sport.

It includes the current New York Cosmos Home Jersey, a tailored silhouette with a classic aesthetic, all blacked out and combined with modern performance benefits.

The wider range includes key Umbro sportswear items including a classic polo silhouette, the Graphic Tee, the Walkout Jacket and the Taped Track jacket which features a sleek all-black version of the iconic 1970s Umbro Diamond Taping along the arms.

The New York Cosmos crest features throughout the collection in a reflective material in a nod to the subtle impact created by the torch and candlelight used throughout the 1977 blackout, while the ‘New York Cosmos’ print is applied in UV ink to celebrate the return of power throughout the city.

Check out our Kits and Jerseys section for more brand new kits.