Summary:
- Venezia FC releases a fourth jersey with NOCTA, Drake's Nike sub-label, drawing from the lagoon's visual language
- Designer Drake Ramberg translates water as a central theme into layered blue tones and historical Venetian references
- Campaign imagery by Diogo Lopes features players alongside chef Silvia Rozas and environmental scientist Jane Da Mosto
Venezia FC has released its fourth kit for the 2025/26 season through a partnership with NOCTA, the sub-label Drake established under Nike. Designer Drake Ramberg built the jersey around water, the element that shapes Venice's geography and daily life.
The kit uses multiple shades of blue. Each layer references different qualities of the lagoon: surface light, deeper currents, and the sediment beneath. Ramberg worked with symbols from Venetian history, pulling color notes from the Winged Lion of St. Mark. The lion appears on the city's flag and across its architecture. His graphic treatment strips these references down to their essential forms rather than reproducing them literally.
This project follows the pattern set by Venezia FC's December fourth kit launch. The club treats these releases as opportunities to work with designers outside traditional sportswear circles. Ramberg's background sits at the intersection of streetwear, performance design, and cultural production. His approach treats the jersey as clothing that functions in two contexts: on the pitch and in daily wear.
The campaign carries the Italian phrase "Siamo Nati Sull'Acqua," which translates to "Born on the Water." Photographer Diogo Lopes shot the images in Venice, working with a group that mixes athletes and local figures who shape the city's current identity.
Players Gianluca Busio and Alice Zuanti appear in the campaign. Busio plays in midfield for Venezia FC's men's squad. Zuanti represents the women's team. The campaign also features Jane Da Mosto, an environmental scientist who works on lagoon preservation, and Silvia Rozas, a chef whose practice draws from Venetian culinary traditions.
Lopes structured the photography to show how different people relate to the same physical environment. The images avoid typical sports marketing aesthetics. Instead, they position the jersey within the broader cultural fabric of the city.
The kit makes its first appearance during a match on February 10. Venezia FC faces Modena FC at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium. The venue sits on the island of Sant'Elena, surrounded by water on three sides.
Ramberg's design process started with studying how light moves across the lagoon's surface at different times of day. He translated these observations into a gradient system that shifts across the jersey's body. The technical fabric supports athletic performance while carrying the visual weight of the design concept.
NOCTA operates as Nike's platform for projects that blend sport with music and lifestyle culture. Drake launched the line in 2020. Previous NOCTA collaborations have focused on functional outdoor wear and basketball-adjacent designs. This partnership marks a move into European football.
Venezia FC has built a reputation for design-forward kit releases since its return to Serie A. The club works with Kappa as its main kit supplier but reserves the fourth kit slot for special projects. Past collaborations have involved designers from fashion and contemporary art backgrounds.
The jersey goes on sale through Venezia FC's online store and three physical locations in Venice. The Rialto store sits near the famous bridge in the San Polo district. The Santi Apostoli location serves the Cannaregio neighborhood. A third store operates in Mestre, the mainland district connected to the historic islands.
Pricing and production details have not been disclosed. The kit uses the same technical specifications as Venezia FC's other performance jerseys, meeting requirements for official match play.
This release continues a trend of football clubs treating kit design as cultural output rather than purely functional sportswear. The involvement of local figures beyond the team roster suggests an interest in connecting the project to Venice's broader community rather than limiting it to the club's fan base.
The campaign's focus on water extends beyond visual metaphor. Venice faces ongoing challenges related to rising sea levels and lagoon ecology. Including Da Mosto, whose work centers on environmental protection, adds context about the city's relationship with its defining element.