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The inspirations behind "the train" of the new Bari shirt by LC23 and Kappa

We interviewed designer Leo Colacicco, who created the latest jersey for Bari

The inspirations behind the train of the new Bari shirt by LC23 and Kappa We interviewed designer Leo Colacicco, who created the latest jersey for Bari
Photo: SSC Bari - Domenico Bari

As in the past season, the collaboration between Kappa, LC23 and Bari is back on time this year. An occasion to show history, tradition and all the creativity that characterises the city washed by the Adriatic Sea, in a single and beautiful collection that this year includes two game jerseys. A rare collaboration first for Serie C and now for Serie B, no club until now has ever thought of realising something similar, but above all with such excellent results. In fact, the shirts were in great demand again this year, selling out in no time, as did the ones dedicated to the octopus last year. But apart from the type of collaboration, the design is also a complete novelty, who before now had decided to include something similar in the design of a kit? It is thanks to a memory, of a match that is still unforgettable for every Galletto fan, in which the Apulian team managed to impose itself at the San Siro with a surprise result of 2-1. The goalscorers still celebrated today were Miguel Angel Guerrero and Sandro 'Cobra' Tovaglieri, and it was the Colombian striker himself, as you can see in the video, who suggested to his team-mates this particular exultation destined to remain in the annals of football.

An exultation that has remained in the memory of the people of Bari for several seasons and which obviously evokes strong emotions, Bari were in a different category and on a different stage, taking the trouble to trip one of the teams in the running for the title. And after almost 28 years since that goal and that iconic moment, Leo Colacicco wanted to extrapolate this memory from his mind, turning it into a silhouette, cleverly placed on a pattern featuring the company logo. The little train characterises Bari's entire collection and is in fact also present in the pre-match jersey with which the players took the field in the match clinched at the last gasp by Antenucci against Cagliari. A design that we will already see on the pitch in the next midweek round, when Bari's team will be engaged in the delicate challenge against Venezia, another great feather in Kappa's cap. A collection that obviously couldn't fail to attract our interest and that's why we decided to have a chat with the person who designed it, trying to find out what the train really represents for the Bari public.

What does that exultation represent for you and how did you decide to put it on your new jersey?

"The 'little train' represents Bari Calcio. This of Bari I think is more unique than rare: to associate a jubilation not with a player but with a football club I think has happened very few times in the history of football. It was definitely something to consider a year ago when designing this special new jersey. And so I immediately took the ball and decided that the little train (the one invented by Cobra Tovalieri at the San Siro in October '94, but before that 'imported' to Italy for the first time by Miguel Angel Guerrero on the occasion of Padova-Bari in September '94) would become the symbol of this new project.

This is the second year you have signed a Bari shirt, repeating yourself is never easy, how did you take up this challenge when you were asked to do it again?

"Repeating was very difficult, because with last year's striped jersey we had made an incredible noise all over the world, gaining the approval of everyone, including the fans (who are usually always the hardest to convince!). I was aware of this 'mission impossible', but at the same time convinced that we could achieve a similar result, even raising the bar of design on the new jersey. And so it was: certainly the little train's jersey is more complex in terms of design and much less 'easy' to understand than last year's. But I'm very happy with how it went, I received appreciation from both insiders and fans... and it wasn't easy at all."

The inspirations behind the train of the new Bari shirt by LC23 and Kappa We interviewed designer Leo Colacicco, who created the latest jersey for Bari | Image 441129
The inspirations behind the train of the new Bari shirt by LC23 and Kappa We interviewed designer Leo Colacicco, who created the latest jersey for Bari | Image 441130
The inspirations behind the train of the new Bari shirt by LC23 and Kappa We interviewed designer Leo Colacicco, who created the latest jersey for Bari | Image 441131

From the octopus to the train, how important is it to show belonging on a football shirt?

"Fundamental! I always start with an idea that fully represents the club and the city, because that's how it should be. It doesn't make sense to me to invent a jersey that doesn't have a concept or colours linked in some way to the team. Not to do so seems to me almost a lack of respect towards the club and the fans."

Did you also design this one, like last year's, thinking it could be worn off the pitch?

"Absolutely! I think today more than ever you have to think about that, because now football has entered people's lives. You see football jerseys everywhere, from pitches to discos, concerts, the street in general."

Doing all the right things, should Bari pull off the feat, would you like to see the LC23 logo on Serie A pitches as well?

"I would be very pleased. The square in Bari deserves Serie A, and it's not just me saying this, the numbers say it too. Making 50000 spectators in Serie B is madness, in Bari there is an incredible desire for great football and I hope that soon the great dream can come true. It would be great for me to design a special jersey for Serie A, also to compare myself with all those big clubs that are used to making these plans every year. Because we must not forget that a project like the one we did with Kappa and SSC Bari both in Serie C last year and in Serie B this year had never been done by anyone else in these categories."

Why did you decide to differentiate and create two game jerseys this year, one white and one black?

"I liked that they were used in two different games and not in one (like last year); the reason is mainly this."