Monday 22 April marks the “World Earth Day”, i.e. the World Day of awareness on issues related to safeguarding the planet. AS Extract Pistoia Basketball 2000, as part of the activities already developed during the year on the subject of sustainability with the “Together for Social” project, will make its contribution with a “Special Edition” uniform. This official shirt, innovative and engaging for its style and the design that is represented above it, will be worn on two occasions: in the home match at the “PalaCarrara” against Brindisi (21 April) and in the away match in Trento (28 April ).
A uniform “Special Edition”, presented this morning in a special press conference in the auditorium of the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi in Piazza Duomo, which is the pinnacle of a path that brings together sport and city culture, thanks to the collaboration of the Pistoia Musei Foundation, with a vision which opens up to the Tuscan territory and beyond. The shirt was designed through a competition among the students of the “Policarpo Petrocchi” Art High School in Pistoia which saw Matthias Mariotti as the winner. Specifically, the “Pistoia Green Basket Town” project involved the III-IV-V classes of the “Graphics and pictorial disciplines” course of the high school, supported – thanks to the Club’s partner Giorgio Tesi Group – in their creative process by the artist Jonathan Calugi. Gonzaga University gave an international dimension to the project by developing a “Case Study” relating to the uniform.
And, just a few minutes before unveiling the new shirt, the letter of appreciation of the initiative arrived from the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security – Honorable Gilberto Picket Fratin – which highlighted the importance of the message launched by this shirt for the defense of the environment and the commitment to social inclusion. After the closeness demonstrated on the occasion of the events organized by As Pistoia Basket 2000 on the occasion of the “International Day of People with Disabilities”, this is the second member of the Government who personally works alongside “Together for the social” seen that, previously, there had been a visit from Minister Alessandra Locatelli.
At the opening of the press conference, greetings from the mayor of Pistoia Alexander Tomasi. «In recent years Pistoia Basket has taught us that it is a company and behaves as such: it is a message that is often not realized in the world of sport and among the fans – states the mayor – because we always tend to dreams prevail over rationality. We know well how, in recent years, there have been dark and difficult moments but we have returned to great successes and the capacity for aggregation: what matters most, however, is the corporate ethics of giving back to the community something of social importance . The company’s work with local institutions continues and this too is a truly fundamental track: congratulations to everyone for the message carried forward with the green culture”.
«What was presented today in the home of the “Fondazione Pistoia Musei” is a project that we care a lot about – explains the marketing and social area advisor Andrew From Nino – for us it is essential to be close to the world of schools, to the entrepreneurship that makes “green” a real mission that supports us and with one of the cultural excellences of the area as the hosts of this press conference. Our first team, the absolute surprise of the 2023/24 LBA championship and already protagonists in the Final Eight of the Italian Cup, will take the field for two matches with this special uniform and I take this opportunity to thank the opposing clubs, namely Brindisi and Trento , who accepted this ongoing change with immediate enthusiasm, also believing in the importance of the message to be sent to protect the environment”.
The sketches of the “Green” uniform were submitted for evaluation and selection of the winning design to the commission made up of representatives of Liceo Petrocchi, Fondazione Pistoia Musei, Giorgio Tesi Group, Macron and Pistoia Basket.
«Participation in the project is a nice opportunity for discussion – he states Rita Gaeta, head teacher of the “Petrocchi” art high school – as well as an important occasion immediately following my appointment last September. I can only mention the project proposal of the sports club, and the partners Fondazione Musei di Pistoia, Giorgio Tesi Group and Macron, to make students work, guided by their teachers, on themes intertwined with the artistic heritage of Pistoia’s museums (Arazzo Millefiori), the green, the values of the world of sport and entrepreneurship. The artistic level of the works sent to the Jury gave ample demonstration of the artistic potential of the students and the skills acquired during the course of study expressed in a project dimension of great depth and importance at a national level.
The planning among the young students of Pistoia, with the contribution of the Pistoia Musei Foundation and the University of Gonzaga which involved the postgraduates of the “Sport Marketing” course, creates an unprecedented synergy in the history of Italian basketball. All accompanied by a video – directed by Andrew Of the Greenhousewhich was presented at a press conference – starring the players of the “Pistoia Green Basket Town” project as well as four players from Estra Pistoia Basket as actors”.
The winning design of the competition is inspired by the Millefiori Tapestry, a masterpiece of textile art exhibited in the Museum of the Ancient Palazzo dei Vescovi and owned by the Cathedral Church. The sixteenth-century Flemish work, which depicts hundreds of botanical and animal species, gave the student the inspiration to link, through art, sport with the themes at the center of “World Earth Day”.
In addition to being worn in two matches which for AS Estra Pistoia Basket 2000 will be decisive for access to the playoff grid in the 2023/24 LBA championship, the “Special Edition” shirt will be on sale in the heart of the city. In fact, from today the uniform will be purchasable exclusively in the bookshop of the Antico Palazzo dei Vescovi, the headquarters of the Pistoia Musei Foundation which overlooks Piazza del Duomo.
The cost of the shirt is 75 euros, that of the single shorts is 60 euros, while the entire outfit will be sold at the price of 120 euros. The entire proceeds will be totally donated to the Sheltered House for Women Victims of Violence in Pistoia, continuing the synergy that had already been implemented with the sports club on the occasion of the World Day against Violence against Women last November.
«A shirt definitely worth seeing rather than describing – says Tommaso Righi, Macron Area Manager who spoke at the presentation – on the white background of the shirt, as well as on the shorts, there is a mix of flowers, stems of grass in different shades of green , profiles of birds and other forest animals. The floral motif is also repeated in white on the green vertical bands on the sides of the shirt and shorts. A design inspired by one of the cultural symbols of Pistoia, the Millefiori Tapestry. A fundamental aspect is that the uniform was entirely made by Macron in Eco Micromesh, i.e. 100% polyester fabric from recycled plastic.”
«Giorgio Tesi Group has a strong and deep bond with its land – these are the words of
Fabrizio Tesi, legal representative of the Pistoia company – where he has always grown the plants that
express the uniqueness and beauty typical of this corner of Tuscany. Just to reinforce this
relationship the company has been investing for 15 years in important projects to enhance and support the
territory, to culture, to society with the work of our Foundation and to young people with the Giorgio Tesi Junior Project active since 2016. The relationship with Pistoia Basket 2000 is a truly special relationship, a great love that has lasted for 14 years now, of which 10 even from Title Sponsor crowned by the two promotions to A1 and many exciting sporting successes. All this while also actively collaborating with bodies and institutions, with the aim of representing a virtuous example to follow and an important point of reference both for the city and for the area that surrounds it”
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