Chicago - Goru Kit Pop-Up

The Goru Kit pop-up was one of the best traveling displays I’ve seen in the city! Mitchell and Jeff were very helpful and knowledgeable. We talked about the unique specialties of the collection they had curated for Chicago. The display featured an impressive range of kits from Japan’s national teams as well as the J.League, but it also clearly had something for everyone. 

Based in Minneapolis (a city with daily flights to Japan) the shop has built close ties overseas, giving their collection a direct and unique connection to Japanese football culture. That subsection was as robust as any I’ve ever seen, so I made sure to highlight a few gems, my favorite was the ’98 Japan national team #11 Kazu kit.

They also happened to be sponsoring a scavenger hunt that day, so I decided to join in. The hunt began near me in Wicker Park, then led me to Saturday’s Football, and finally into the Goru Kit Pop-Up. I ended up completing it and took home some great items, including a 2019 Chicago Fire FC home kit and a poster from local artist Clue for that night’s upcoming match vs. LAFC. 

When I made it into the shop, I was especially interested in seeing the Chicago Sting kits they had on display. The Sting were Chicago’s first pro soccer team—one of the most successful and beloved clubs in the city’s history. Their branding was inspired by the film of the same name, and the black and yellow colors quickly became iconic, instantly recognizable as part of the team’s identity. Honestly, I can’t even remember if I’d ever seen one of their jerseys in person before, let alone a whole collection. 

Goru Kits put together an incredible set of pieces to explore, and impressed me with their knowledge and deep connection to the culture. I’m looking forward to seeing what they have in store next—and I definitely need to make a trip to Minneapolis to check out their full collection, which looks to be one of the biggest in the Midwest!