Orlando Pirates unveil new Adidas kits paying tribute to Johannesburg’s ‘City of Gold’

Orlando Pirates have launched their latest home and away kits in partnership with Adidas, with the new designs built around a tribute to Johannesburg and the club’s approaching 90th anniversary.

The jerseys, unveiled as part of a new campaign film, place South Africa’s economic hub at the centre of the story, explicitly honouring Johannesburg’s long-held nickname, the City of Gold.

Adidas and Orlando Pirates have used the golden theme as a visual thread running through the release, with gold detailing incorporated to nod towards the club’s 90th year, which will be marked in 2027.

The launch continues a recent trend in Orlando Pirates kit releases, which often generate strong reaction from supporters but are also used by the club and Adidas to introduce bolder concepts, collaborations and carefully considered design features.

While full technical details of the material and tailoring have not been disclosed in the campaign announcement, the emphasis is on design storytelling – combining the club’s identity with the character of Johannesburg and its mining-linked heritage.

The home and away shirts form the core of the new range, which will be worn across all competitions in which Orlando Pirates take part. The club’s traditional visual identity is retained, but is updated through the use of gold accents to reflect both the City of Gold narrative and the forthcoming 90-year milestone.

The campaign film released alongside the kits is positioned as a central part of the launch, visually connecting the team, its supporters and the city it represents. The film underlines the message that the Buccaneers’ latest strip is not only a playing kit but also a celebration of place and history.

TimesLIVE provided an early look at the designs, highlighting how the new release seeks to balance the drama and debate that often accompanies Orlando Pirates shirts with a more deliberate, concept-driven approach from Adidas and the club.

With the 90th anniversary still to come in 2027, the golden thread used in this year’s collection signals the start of a longer commemorative journey, in which Orlando Pirates and Adidas are expected to continue referencing the club’s heritage and its links to Johannesburg in future designs.