National athletes Shanti Pereira and Michelle Sng wear who they are proudly on their chests with the new adidas VRCT jackets. What do you represent?
You know the saying: dress for the job you want. Thanks to today’s fluid dress codes, power dressing is no longer limited to tailored suits or stiletto heels. It could be a dress that flatters while conveying an aura of influence, a pair of shoes that elevates one’s self confidence, or the new adidas varsity-style VRCT jacket which exudes cool vibes while being a statement piece and a platform for self-expression.
A contemporary take on the traditional letterman jacket, the jacket’s flexible, lightweight nature allows for maximum freedom of movement and year-round wearability thanks to its soft double-knit fabric. More than just a sport jacket, it also comes with interchangeable Velcro patches, allowing an individual to choose a word badge they feel best represents them and their own personal story, adding a touch of customisation to what would otherwise be a generic piece of clothing.
For NBA MVP James Harden, he chose “Family”, a word that inspires his confidence and has helped shape him to be the person he is today. Paralympic cyclist Denise Schindler chose “I’mPerfect” to challenge the notion of perfection by overcoming near-impossible odds, as she’s done building her own artificial limb using 3D printing technology.
Closer to home, high jump queen Michelle Sng feels “Sacrifice” best represents her goals and mindset. “I prefer to look at the word ‘Sacrifice’ as more of a choice – if it’s something that I want, I’m willing to do what it takes to go get what I want. If in the process, it means not being able to do something else, that’s fine because it’s a choice.”
For Michelle, there is no compromise. “If I want something bad enough, I go ahead and go for it… Being in high-performance or elite sport, it means having little time for family and friends, especially if you have to be away from the country for long durations. It’s something I’ve had to do a few times. I’m very lucky that the people around me understand that this is what I want and need to do.”
Similarly, Singapore’s own sprint queen Shanti Pereira decided “Brave” was how she wanted to express her choice to become a national athlete. “It requires courage to compete, to be fearless and give it your all, being able to come back from failures, bounce back from a low point, to overcome injuries and return to form.”
For Shanti, the jacket represents more than just a mindset, it’s also illustrative of her unique, personal style. “I’ve always wanted a varsity jacket ‘cause it’s so sporty and chic at the same time,” she shared. “Plus, I love the yellow tones on the VRCT jacket. They make it look very vintage and so cool.”
To customise the adidas VRCT jacket, adidas offers a few options. Orders made online at adidas.com.sg/athletics-vrct have both the ‘A’ badge and the choice of an additional patch – “Family”, “Author”, “Brave”, “I’mPerfect” and “Sacrifice” – to add on. For purchases made at adidas retail stores, customers have both the ‘A’ badge, the five patches or a choice of three additional Singapore-inspired patches (coming soon, in the iconic Merlion, Singapore’s nature elements and +65) designed by local design outfit Tell Your Children to select from.
There’s never been a better time to wear your strength proudly, so what are you waiting for?
The VRCT Jacket will be available from September 12, 2019 in a selection of colourways at adidas stores at Suntec City, VivoCity, Marina Bay Sands, Changi Airport T2 and T4, Ion, Paragon, Bugis Junction, Jewel, Tampines 1, JEM, Orchard Gateway, Causeway Point and online at adidas.com.sg/athletics-vrct.
– Brought to you by adidas –
