For Pride Cup, Adelaide United Unveils Jersey Designed by Local Artist

In celebration of Pride 2024, Adelaide United has teamed up with local artist Mali Isabel to create a special kit inspired by Indigenous Australian paintings. This kit made its debut in the Original Rivalry, a fierce derby that took place last weekend against Melbourne Victory. The name alone tells you all you need to know about the relationship between these two clubs, but each year they set aside their differences to host a round of the Pride Cup, a charity event dedicated to encouraging LGBTQ+ people to become more involved in sports.

One of the world’s oldest surviving artistic traditions, Indigenous painting is extremely diverse: there are as many styles as there are Indigenous cultures within Australia. Since many of these cultures do not have a history of written language, painting has been used by them as an important form of communication as well as a way of maintaining a connection with the past. Explaining the design of the shirt—its whirling, multicolored pattern—Isabel said that it “invites all of us to reflect on the interconnectedness of all living beings and the beauty that emerges when we embrace the rich tapestry of life.”

In addition to coming from an Indigenous background, Isabel is a member of the LGBTQ+ community who has chosen to champion this aspect of her identity in her design. “I love using the rainbow colors purely to remind people about pride, and being loud and proud about your culture, your identity, and everything in between.”

As an official partner of the A-League, we’re excited to be hosting exclusive live auctions for all of the shirts that were worn on the field during this derby. For the chance to make one yours, click here and start bidding!