In 1988, the NBA finally came to North Carolina — and the newly minted Charlotte Hornets made an unconventional choice to hire a fashion designer to create their jerseys. They lost 60 games that year, but they looked incredible while doing it. The iconic fit, inspired in part by Michael Jordan, would launch a global fashion trend that endures today.

Alexander Julian, Fashion designer and creator of the original Charlotte Hornets uniform
Crystal McCrary McGuire, Filmmaker and creator of the forthcoming docuseries Tunnel to Runway: The History of Fashion in the NBA

Links:

Watch video from the 1988 Charlotte Hornets uniform reveal press conference.
You can find a transcript of the episode here.

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Purple, teal and the rise of basketball fashion