UK-based sneaker label Clints have tried its hand at paying homage to the Toronto Raptors' inaugural purple home jersey. Unfortunately, Clints paid homage to the current Raptors as just like this year's roster, they’re taking an L.

Clints prides itself on being an experimental sneaker company that showcases colourways from cultures around the world. Their shoes have been deemed progressive within the UK market, and take on a similar advertising approach. 

Their Instagram is private, and their website is under lock and key. 

No, literally. To enter their website, you need to type in your email which invites you to enter the site whenever they have a drop. 

Previous colourways and sneaker silhouettes have done a good job of capturing the local cultural essence. Unfortunately, their TRL 2.0 “Raptors” colourway is a dire miss. 

The Toronto Raptors debuted their home purple uniforms when they played their first game in ‘95. Fans immediately likened the colorway to the dinosaur that previously had local hearts, hoping that they wouldn’t play as cute and cuddly as Barney looked.

Raptors original purple jerseys from the 90s. I need these as one of the classic edition jerseys next season, like they did with the white ones in 2019. Please make it happen @Raptors 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ildcVMYZ5R

— Mason Carr (@masoncarr5) April 28, 2023

Fast forward to today and the Toronto Raptors' purple jersey may as well be our city's official logo. Those purple jerseys have been seen at local parks, festivals, and on Drake’s body countless times. 

Clint failed at their Raptors colourway because they did the complete opposite of what they’ve done with previous collabs: Truly capture the local essence. 

The stitching on the sneakers, or the underlying graphic beneath the toe box, could have been lightning bolts, a detail on the original jersey that stands the test of time. 

There was potential to include a raptor claw mark, the number six quite literally anywhere, or, maybe get the purple right?

I think that this Clints “Raptors” colourway was a bust, just like this year’s season.