James Benesh: Over the past few years, our vision for team merchandise has evolved beyond the standard ballpark apparel. Weâve made a concentrated effort to focus on strategic collabs with culturally relevant, fashion-forward lifestyle brands. Thatâs allowed us to expand and offer a much wider array of female offerings and streetwear pieces. This started with Aimé Leon Dore and Siegelman Stable, and now partnering with New York or Nowhere is a huge next step.
Our fans have been clamoring for a collaboration with New York or Nowhere for quite some time, and weâre happy we can deliver with such an extensive collection from the iconic brand. Itâs a partnership that just makes sense for both parties. We canât wait to see these pieces in our ballpark and on the streets of New York City!
What was the inspiration behind the varsity jackets? Why did you feel like those needed to be part of the collection?
Moore: The varsity jacket is the most iconic piece of American sportswear that exists. Itâs timeless, endlessly stylish, and lends itself incredibly well to various interpretations and fabrications. This collection includes three variations of the same silhouetteâone with a wool body and leather sleeves, one in 100% cotton twill for more of a workwear vibe, and the last in this beautiful Japanese satin that feels equal parts nostalgic and now. We finished them off with multiple forms of embroidery, including chenille and appliqué, as well as a trio of sleeve patches. As a designer, the varsity jacket is easily my favorite canvas. It sets the perfect foundation for a collection like this, which is ultimately rooted in heritage and fandom.
What kind of feedback have you gotten on this? Anything from the players?
Moore: The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. This project has been in motion for over two years, and the Mets have been incredible partners throughout. Theyâve trusted our vision from the jump, which I think has resulted in some of our strongest work as a brand to date. Players have shown a lot of love, too. We create these collections for the fans, first and foremost, but itâs always icing on the cake when the squad embraces the product as well. Pete Alonso has worn NYON in the past, so we made sure he was the first guy to receive pieces from the collection. [Francisco] Lindor requested a bunch of stuff. The GOATâthatâs the greatest owner of all timeâAlex Cohen wore one of the varsity jackets to the first home game. The response has been pretty humbling, both internally and externally.