When Chicago Turns Green

CULTURE · CITY · ACTIVEWEAR

When Chicago Turns Green

THE RIVER, ST. PATRICK’S DAY AND A COINCIDENCE THAT GAVE MEANING TO THE CHICAGO JUMPSUIT

Every year, the Chicago River is dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, a tradition that began in 1962 and is now one of the city’s most iconic events.

For a few hours, the water changes color and completely transforms the urban landscape. What began as a technique for detecting pollutants eventually became a cultural symbol that attracts thousands of people every year.

Today, the process is also carried out using a special plant-based dye that is safe for the ecosystem and designed to preserve the tradition without affecting the river.

And this year, it also coincided with something else.

THE DAY CHICAGO CHANGES

Once a year, Chicago changes.

The gray of its buildings, the city’s constant rhythm, the movement of the water… everything transforms.

The Chicago River turns green.

An intense, almost unreal green that runs through the city center and turns it into a completely different scene.

It’s not a coincidence. It’s tradition.

Every year, during St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, this gesture is repeated and marks one of the city’s most recognizable moments.

THE ORIGIN OF AN UNEXPECTED TRADITION

The story of the Chicago River being dyed green began in the 1960s, when a special dye was used to detect pollutant discharges in the water.

That was when the visual impact created by the color was discovered.

What began as a technical solution became a tradition.

Over time, the process evolved to use a non-polluting plant-based dye, maintaining the visual effect without compromising the natural environment.

Since then, every year, the river has been dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, establishing itself as one of Chicago’s most iconic events.

A simple gesture that today represents identity, community, and celebration.

THE GREEN THAT BECAME A SYMBOL

The color green has always been linked to Ireland, but in Chicago it took on a meaning of its own.

For a few hours, the river ceases to be just another part of the city and becomes a symbol.

A meeting point.
A shared tradition.
A moment that transforms the everyday into something unexpected.

That green —intense, vibrant— is what makes this event so instantly recognizable.

WHEN THE CITY AND THE MOMENT COME TOGETHER

Cities have something special about them.

Their rhythm, their colors, the way they move… everything ends up influencing how we dress.

And there are moments, like this one, when that connection appears without us even looking for it.

The contrast between the green of the Chicago River and the city's architecture.
The blend of movement, energy and urban landscape.
The feeling that something ordinary can transform into something completely different.

And this time, it coincided with something more.

CHICAGO TURNS EMERALD. WE MADE IT WEARABLE.

The launch of the Chicago jumpsuit happened at precisely that moment.

Without planning it.
Without looking for it.
Yet fitting together perfectly.

A color that doesn't go unnoticed.
A city in motion.
An energy that blends strength and style.

Sometimes the best ideas can't be forced.
They simply appear when everything comes together.

→ Discover the chicago jumpsuit

MOVEMENT CAN ALSO BE AESTHETIC

Running, movement, everyday life in the city… everything is changing.

It’s no longer just about working out.

It’s about how you move.
How you feel.
How sport fits into your life.

Activewear is no longer just functional—it’s also a form of self-expression.

Pieces that work in motion, but also fit right into the city.

They don’t stop at sport.
They carry on afterwards.

ONE LAST IDEA THAT STAYS WITH YOU

The river returns to its original colour.

The city goes on.

But something remains.

The idea that even the most everyday things can be transformed.

A colour.
A moment.
A coincidence.

And perhaps that’s what interests us most: making something that already exists feel different.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why does the Chicago River turn green on St. Patrick’s Day?
The Chicago River has been dyed green since 1962 as part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. What began as a technique for detecting pollutants became an iconic city tradition.

Is the green dye in the Chicago River harmful?
No. Today, an environmentally friendly vegetable-based dye is used that does not harm the river’s ecosystem.

How long does the green colour last in the Chicago River?
The colour usually lasts for several hours, although it can remain visible for one or two days depending on the water conditions.