Unveiling the Story Behind FC Barcelona's Purple Rakuten-Era Shorts
Everything you need to know about the iconic purple shorts associated with Barça's Rakuten sponsorship period.
Key Insights
- Primary Association: The purple shorts you're asking about are most famously linked to FC Barcelona's 2021-22 Away Kit, produced by Nike.
- Rakuten Sponsorship Era: Rakuten, a Japanese e-commerce giant, was FC Barcelona's main global sponsor from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2022. Kits from this period, including the purple away kit, are associated with their branding, though the logo was primarily featured on the jerseys.
- Availability Today: As this kit is from a past season and the sponsorship has changed (now Spotify), these specific shorts are mainly found through resale markets and collectors' sites like eBay, rather than current official club stores.
The Iconic 2021-22 Purple Away Kit
A Closer Look at the Design and Symbolism
When fans recall purple FC Barcelona shorts associated with Rakuten, they are almost certainly thinking of the striking away kit used during the 2021-22 season. This kit stood out not just for its vibrant purple hue – a relatively modern color choice for the club – but also for its deeper meaning.
Design Features
Manufactured by Nike, the kit featured a rich purple base color for both the jersey and the shorts. Subtle details often included iridescent accents on the club crest and Nike swoosh, reflecting light with different colors. The shorts typically matched the jersey's primary color and incorporated Nike's performance technology.
- Color: Predominantly purple (often described as 'Purple Pulse').
- Branding: Featured the embroidered FC Barcelona crest and the Nike swoosh logo.
- Material: Utilized Nike's Dri-FIT technology, a polyester fabric designed to wick sweat away and keep players dry and comfortable.
- Fit: Standard fit for football shorts, allowing for ease of movement, often with an elastic waistband and drawstring.
The FC Barcelona 2021-22 Away Shorts in purple by Nike.
Symbolism: Diversity and Women's Empowerment
This particular purple kit was officially launched with a message promoting diversity and women's empowerment. It was partly a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the first match played by Barça's pioneering women's team in 1970. The choice of purple, a color often associated with feminist movements and the fight for equality, underscored this message, making the kit significant beyond its aesthetic appeal.
The Rakuten Sponsorship Connection
Understanding the Branding
Rakuten became FC Barcelona's Main Global Partner and first-ever Global Innovation and Entertainment Partner starting in the 2017-18 season. Their logo was prominently displayed on the front of the first-team jerseys for five seasons, concluding after the 2021-22 campaign.
Rakuten's logo featured prominently on FC Barcelona jerseys from 2017 to 2022.
Branding on the Shorts
It's important to clarify that while the shorts are part of the kit *sponsored* by Rakuten during that era, the Rakuten logo itself was typically not printed directly on the match shorts. Sponsor logos on shorts are less common than on jerseys, usually reserved for training wear or specific league regulations. Therefore, when people refer to "purple Barça shorts that say Rakuten," they usually mean the shorts that correspond to the jersey that prominently featured the Rakuten logo from that specific season (like 2021-22).
Comparing FC Barcelona Kit Attributes
A Visual Overview
FC Barcelona's kits vary significantly season by season, especially the away and third kits which often experiment with bold colors and designs. The radar chart below offers a conceptual comparison of typical attributes across Home, Away (like the 21/22 Purple), and Third kits during the modern Nike era.
This chart illustrates how the purple away kit (represented conceptually) scores high on color vibrancy, design experimentation, and symbolic meaning compared to the more traditional home kit. Sponsor prominence refers mainly to the jersey association during that era.
Exploring the Context: FC Barcelona Purple Shorts (Rakuten Era)
A Mindmap Overview
To better understand the various facets surrounding these shorts, the following mindmap breaks down the key elements discussed:
(Rakuten Era)"] id1["Kit Details"] id1a["Primary Kit: 2021-22 Away"] id1b["Color: Vibrant Purple"] id1c["Manufacturer: Nike"] id1d["Material: Dri-FIT Polyester"] id1e["Features: Club Crest, Nike Swoosh"] id2["Sponsorship Context"] id2a["Sponsor: Rakuten"] id2b["Period: 2017-2022"] id2c["Logo Placement: Mainly on Jersey"] id2d["Shorts Association: Part of the sponsored kit"] id2e["Successor Sponsor: Spotify (Post-2022)"] id3["Symbolism (21/22 Kit)"] id3a["Tribute to Women's Team Anniversary"] id3b["Message: Diversity & Empowerment"] id3c["Color Significance: Purple associations"] id4["Availability"] id4a["Status: Past Season Item"] id4b["Primary Sources: Resale Markets (eBay, etc.)"] id4c["Collectors' Item"] id4d["Official Stores: Unlikely for Rakuten version"] id4e["Current Purple Shorts: Exist, but with Spotify/no sponsor"]
This mindmap connects the specific kit (2021-22 Away) with the Rakuten sponsorship period, its features, symbolism, and current availability status.
Key Kit Comparisons
Purple and Rakuten-Era Kits
This table provides a quick comparison between the specific 2021-22 purple away kit and other relevant FC Barcelona kits:
| Kit Feature | 2021-22 Away Kit | Typical Home Kit (Rakuten Era) | 2023-24 Third Kit (Example Post-Rakuten Purple) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Color | Purple | Blue & Garnet (Blaugrana) | Light Aqua/Mint (Often alternate colors like purple appear too) |
| Shorts Color | Purple | Blue | Matches Jersey (e.g., Aqua/Mint, sometimes Purple variants exist) |
| Main Jersey Sponsor | Rakuten | Rakuten | Spotify |
| Manufacturer | Nike | Nike | Nike |
| Key Association | Diversity, Women's Empowerment, Rakuten Sponsor | Club Tradition, Rakuten Sponsor | Modern Design, Spotify Sponsor |
| Rakuten Branding on Shorts? | No (Associated via kit) | No (Associated via kit) | No (Different Sponsor) |
Finding the Shorts Today
Where to Look for Past Season Kits
Since Rakuten's sponsorship ended in 2022 and kits are updated annually, finding the specific purple 2021-22 away shorts requires searching for past-season apparel. Here’s where you might have luck:
- Online Marketplaces: Platforms like eBay are excellent resources for finding specific football kits from previous seasons. Search using terms like "FC Barcelona purple shorts 2021/22," "Nike CV8148-580" (the product code for the 21/22 away shorts), or "Barcelona Rakuten kit purple."
- Vintage Sportswear Retailers: Some online stores specialize in classic and retro football shirts and kits.
- Fan Forums and Social Media Groups: Collectors sometimes sell or trade kits within fan communities.
Be aware that current purple shorts available in the official FC Barcelona store or from Nike will feature the current sponsor (Spotify) or potentially no sponsor branding, not Rakuten.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do the purple shorts actually say "Rakuten" on them? +
Generally, no. The main sponsor logo (Rakuten during 2017-2022) was primarily featured on the front of the jersey. While the shorts are part of the complete kit associated with that sponsor, the shorts themselves typically only feature the club crest and the manufacturer's logo (Nike). Fans refer to them as "Rakuten shorts" because they belong to the kit from that sponsorship era.
Which specific season are these purple Rakuten-associated shorts from? +
The most prominent example is the 2021-22 Away Kit. While other training or alternate kits during the Rakuten era (2017-2022) might have incorporated purple, the 2021-22 away kit is the most famous and directly linked purple design from that period.
Can I still buy these shorts from the official FC Barcelona store or Nike? +
It's highly unlikely. Official stores typically stock the current season's kits and sometimes the previous season's items on clearance. Since the 2021-22 kit is several seasons old and the sponsor has changed, you would need to look at resale markets (like eBay) or specialized retro kit suppliers.
Who is FC Barcelona's current main sponsor? +
As of the 2022-23 season, FC Barcelona's main global partner and front-of-shirt sponsor is Spotify.
Recommended
- Explore the history of FC Barcelona's away kit colors over the years.
- Find out more details about the sponsorship deal between FC Barcelona and Rakuten.
- Discover the best places to buy authentic vintage FC Barcelona kits.
- See the current season's FC Barcelona kits featuring the Spotify sponsor.
References
amazon.com
Last updated April 30, 2025