CCYAA Releases Latest Bruce Lee Collaboration with Toronto Raptors
WRITTEN BY FÊTE CHINOISE EDITORIAL TEAM
Photography: courtesy of Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association
The Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association (CCYAA) has partnered with Mitchell & Ness for the fourth consecutive year to unveil limited-edition apparel. This year’s release is the highly anticipated Bruce Lee x Toronto Raptors capsule collection, designed to celebrate the passion for the NBA within the North American Asian diaspora and pay tribute to Bruce Lee’s profound global impact on the community.
Titled "Enter the Raptor," this exclusive 2023 Winter Holiday campaign cleverly merges iconic elements of Bruce Lee, including his nunchaku, with the strong presence of the Toronto Raptors. The timing is perfect as it commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Bruce Lee's prominent film "Enter the Dragon 龍爭虎鬥," released in 1973.
Bruce Lee's enduring charm among basketball stars makes this collaboration picture-perfect. Clement Chu, President of CCYAA, notes, "Bruce Lee, as an entity, and basketball culture share a long history ranging from NBA Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s role in ‘Game of Death’ to Nike and Kobe Bryant creating a collaborative sneaker that paid tribute to Bruce Lee and current players like Klay Thompson and Jamaal Murray, all expressing their love for his respective teachings and legacy." Each piece in the collection becomes a representation of the culture, the team, and the city, creating a unique fusion of East and West.
Besides a fashion release, this annual collaboration is a cultural celebration that aligns with CCYAA's mission to foster a more diverse community. Known for seamlessly integrating popular Asian elements such as Lucky Cat, Boba, and Bruce Lee, the CCYAA has successfully reached beyond the Asian community circle, promoting a broader appreciation for culture.
Launched on Nov 29th, proceeds from the collection will contribute to the Bruce Lee Foundation and the CCYAA, supporting initiatives that bridge cultures and champion inclusion. To mark the launch, Shannon Lee, CEO of the Bruce Lee Family Company and President of the Bruce Lee Foundation, attended the launch event on Nov 28th and the Raptors game on Nov 29th at Scotiabank Arena. Additionally, Olivia Cheng and Chelsea Muirhead, stars of the HBO show Warrior, joined Real Sports Apparel for a meet and greet session on November 29th, before Toronto Raptors’ game.
The collection is now available on CCYAA and Real Sports Apparel.
As a platform dedicated to celebrating Chinese-Canadian contemporary culture, we extend heartfelt congratulations to the CCYAA on yet another successful collaboration that enriches our cultural landscape and promotes inclusivity.
For millennia, representations of dragons have been deeply ingrained in Chinese art across a variety of media. The dragon’s various depictions highlight its pivotal role as a representation of the divine, a symbol of imperial authority, and a dynamic force capable of warding off malevolent influences. Through its role as a benevolent deity, it’s believed to bring auspicious events, such as rainfall, and to foster life on earth.