THE STORY | BEHIND THE DESIGN
SASS partnered with the Capitals to design a special warm-up jersey promoting gender equity in sports, and she chose painting as her starting medium. Her painting is titled FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE.
With the 50th anniversary of Title IX this year, this jersey project was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the impact that it’s had on society. SASS began the process by taking a trip to Washington D.C. to archive architectural landmarks that helped push forward Title IX in the public sphere.
The painting features all of the historic architecture that Title IX has moved through or currently lives in. The buildings are painted in the Washington Capitals’ colors and collaged at different scales and perspectives. This restitching represents the opportunity to re-examine the current and future impact of Title IX from a new perspective.
For the jersey design, SASS began with the 2021 Blue Third Alternate jersey as her starting point. The W on the front and numbers on the back are infilled from cropped pieces of her painting, Foundations For Change. The Roman numerals of Title IX are woven into the W logo on the front of the jersey.
TITLE IX deserves to be worn proudly on the chest as it has provided tremendous opportunities for women in sports.
Title IX has shaped SASS’s life and career significantly. As a former college D1 athlete & pro hockey player, STEM professional, and entrepreneur, SASS is a living example of how Title IX has opened many doors for females in sports and beyond
“I think it’s important to celebrate and protect this legislation since recent events have proven that these laws can be reversed. We also need to examine how Title IX can be improved to provide equity for all.“
FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE
2022
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS
36"X48"
THIS PAINTING CELEBRATES THE HISTORIC FOUNDATIONS FOR CHANGE, BOTH ARCHITECTURAL & LEGAL, THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN THE CAPITALS’ HOME. WITH ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, TITLE IX DESERVES TO BE WORN PROUDLY ON THE CHEST AS IT HAS PROVIDED TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN SPORTS. THE COLORFUL COLLAGED ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS REPRESENTS RESTITCHING THE FABRIC OF HISTORY, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE-EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF TITLE IX FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
“ARLINGTON, VA - The Washington Capitals unveiled today a Women in Hockey warmup jersey inspired by Title IX. The jersey, designed by former Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) goaltender and current PWHPA board member Kimberly Sass of SASS STUDIO, will be worn during warmups when the Capitals host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, March 23, during Women in Hockey Night presented by Fresh Vine Wine.
The jersey was unveiled during a special ceremony at the National Archives today. The ceremony followed a tour attend by players from four PWHPA teams who are in town for the Capitals PWHPA Showcase being hosted in Washington, D.C., March 4-5. During the tour, the group visited the "All American: The Power of Sports" exhibit that features a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, including the original Title IX document.”
— NHL.COM | March 3rd, 2023
