Pat, New York, and the Shirt That Changed Everything

The story behind our NY ’97 range

In 1997, our mate Pat pulled off a win that made tennis history - and looked good doing it. The US Open final wasn’t just a Grand Slam moment, it was a moment of personal rebellion. The shirt he wore that day? Technically not the one he was meant to.

 

A top with a twist

As Pat tells it, “I had the German range. I put the shirt on and I didn’t like the American one, so I wore the German one.” Bold move. A couple matches in, the Reebok rep caught on - but gave the all-clear: “If you like it, we’ll let you go.”

 

That shirt - deep twilight, with sand yellow, sunset lilac and sea blue stripes - was part of a Euro drop, rarely seen on US courts. Unplanned, unconventional, and totally Pat.

 

It was exactly the kind of rebellious spirit we rally behind at Rallee. So when it came time to design a range that celebrated our roots and our co-founder’s iconic moment, the colour story basically wrote itself.

A collection inspired by 90s New York

We designed the NY ’97 range with that same mix of cool defiance and court energy. The palette? Taken straight from that from that Slam-winning fit Pat wore to lift the US Open trophy. The vibe? New York streets in late summer - cabbies yelling, chainlink fences clinking, and the city that never sleeps hosting the slam that never disappoints.

 

From cropped crews to heritage caps, every piece in the collection nods to that moment in '97 when style met substance, and Pat backed his gut - on court and in the wardrobe.

 

 

 

 

  

The serve that started it all

Watch Pat relive the moment himself in this short interview. Then check out a few of our favourite looks from the range. Whether you’re stepping onto the court or just repping racket culture your way, the NY ’97 collection is for those who play on their own terms.

 

 

Because sometimes, the best rallies start when you don’t follow the script.

 

 

 

Check the full NY '97 collection