Croatia’s checkerboard gets three stripes. After 26 years with Nike, adidas has unveiled its first kits for the national team – without trying to reinvent Croatia’s identity. Instead, both designs dig deep into the country’s history and culture.
From 2000 onwards, the Nike Swoosh sat on Croatia’s national shirts. Even the red-and-white checkerboard changed shape more than once during that time; Nike stayed. That partnership is now history: adidas has taken over from the US brand as kit supplier to the Croatian Football Federation (HNS).
Under the slogan “Checkers Meet Stripes,” the federation and its new supplier announced their multi-year partnership back in early August. Now come the first two kits, marking the first time adidas’ three stripes have met Croatia’s famous checkerboard.
Croatia’s New Home Kit Writes History Into the Checkerboard
adidas hasn’t touched the red-and-white pattern for its debut. The home kit still uses the large squares that have defined the Croatian national team’s look since the 1990s. It’s only up close that the new supplier’s touch becomes visible.
Woven into the red squares are characters from the Glagolitic alphabet, the oldest known Slavic script. It holds particular historical significance in Croatia; among its most famous surviving examples is the Baška tablet, dating from the early 12th century. The characters form a fine pattern within the red squares.
They’re joined by blue adidas stripes on the shoulders and blue, red and white detailing on the collar and cuffs. adidas’ current performance logo sits on the chest.
Croatia’s New Away Kit Carries Lace From the Island of Pag
The cultural reference is less obvious on the away kit. Here, adidas goes with blue, red-orange accents and a white trefoil on the chest. A geometric pattern runs across the front, drawing on traditional lace from the island of Pag.
Known as Pag lace, it’s handmade with a needle and fine thread, and belongs to Croatia’s lacemaking traditions listed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Both the new home and away kits are available now via adidas’ online store.
