How purple and teal became the colors of the 90s

In 1988, professional basketball came to North Carolina with the arrival of the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA. Desperate to make a splash, the new team made an unconventional early hire; they selected a famous fashion designer to create their uniforms. The Hornets lost 60 games during that bumpy first season, but they looked incredible while doing it. And their iconic look — purple, teal and pinstripes — would launch a global fashion trend that endures today.A version of this episode originally published on February 2, 2024.Featuring:Alexander Julian, fashion designer and creator of the original Charlotte Hornets uniformCrystal McCrary McGuire, writer and documentary filmmakerLinks:Watch video from the 1988 Charlotte Hornets uniform reveal press conference.Cover photo: A Charlotte Hornets-branded Starter jacket that was wildly popular during the 1990s.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.