The 16 Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs have unveiled their new home jerseys on Wednesday, quickly sparking widespread backlash from fans, who dubbed the designs an "aesthetic catastrophe" riddled with poor execution and homogenization. Photo: Screenshot from website

The 16 Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs have unveiled their new home jerseys on Wednesday, quickly sparking widespread backlash from fans, who dubbed the designs an "aesthetic catastrophe" riddled with poor execution and homogenization.

The jerseys, designed and manufactured by CSL sportswear sponsor Nike, have drawn sharp criticism for their crude textures and lack of polish, contrasting starkly with the company's promotional rhetoric.

In the announcement, Nike described the jerseys as drawing from "urban fabrics and club memories," aiming to honor local identities. 

Beijing Guoan's jersey, inspired by the light and shadow projections at the Workers' Stadium to pay tribute to the club's heritage, has been mockingly called the "tire jersey" by fans, as the chaotic lines and cheap-feeling material evoke tire tracks.

Last season's CSL champions, Shanghai Port, fared no better. Their design incorporates nautical signal flag elements with spliced "Shanghai" letters to reflect the city's port identity, but the jumbled arrangement has been panned for lacking any aesthetic appeal. 

With Shanghai Port set to face FA Cup winners Beijing Guoan in the upcoming Super Cup in March, fans have jokingly renamed the Super Cup clash as the "tire derby."

Last season's title contenders Chengdu Rongcheng's kit has been ridiculed as resembling "hotpot oil splatters on clothing," further highlighting the perceived carelessness in design.

For fans, jerseys represent more than sportswear: they embody team spirit, city culture, and personal affiliation. 

A broader issue is the uniformity across the league. 

Fans have pointed out that, without club badges, half the teams' jerseys look nearly identical, erasing individual identities. 

Tianjin Jinmen Tiger's "dynamic tiger textures," Dalian Yingbo's "energetic horse lines," and Qingdao Hainiu's "light and shadow patterns" are cited as examples of repetitive motifs that feel like lazy rehashes.

The outrage extends beyond aesthetics to Nike's perceived indifference, fueled by its monopoly on CSL kits. 

In 2018, Nike signed a 10-year deal with the CSL, effective from 2019 to 2029. 

Fans argue that this league-wide, unified sponsorship model, unlike the individualized kit deals in Europe's top leagues, allows Nike to produce standardized designs without competitive pressure or direct fan input. 

"This approach suppresses club branding and prioritizes bulk production over design quality, leaving supporters feeling disregarded in what should be a vibrant part of Chinese football," Zhang Bin, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times.

"China spans vast regions with hugely diverse cultures, so naturally the jerseys should draw inspiration from and empower local culture, allowing for a more marked local uniqueness."