Pinstripes, Posters, and a Magical Throwback That Hits Different

Here in North Florida, I keep seeing the new Orlando Magic redesign pop up, and even as a casual basketball fan, I have to say: it hits a little different.

I grew up in the ’90s watching TV with my dad, and I remember seeing Shaq in those pinstripes. Back then, those jerseys weren’t just team gear, they were fashion. They showed up in school hallways, on corner store posters, and probably in more than one yearbook photo. That star-in-the-A logo? Burned into my memory.

Now the team’s rolling out a fresh take for the 2025-26 season, and honestly, I get the hype. It’s clean. It’s nostalgic. And it still feels sharp enough to fit the moment.

What’s interesting is that this isn’t just a sports thing. From food to fashion to CPG to entertainment, we’re deep into a nostalgia era. I’ve seen it in my own design work too: hand-drawn illustrations, retro type, imperfect textures. The more polished and algorithmic everything gets, the more people seem to crave something human, familiar, a little fuzzy around the edges.

Maybe that’s why this update feels bigger than just a jersey. It’s a nod to where we came from - but also a blank slate for the next generation to make it theirs.

What do you think: is nostalgia peaking? Or just getting started? And where do you think this trend goes next?