Last January, Orlando City SC displayed their brand new kits for the 2012 season in front of hundreds of supporters at Mojo Cajun Bar & Grill in downtown Orlando. The centerpiece of the evening was not an update on where the franchise was with Major League Soccer or roster information from Head Coach Adrian Heath.

The focus, however, was creating a brand new identity for a franchise that was quickly becoming known as one of the top-level clubs in the United States.

As a background, Orlando always wanted to have purple as a dominant color in their brand. In the 2011 season, the red kits were a secondary choice as the timeline was shifted due to the short leeway between seasons in Austin and Central Florida. But the Lions ownership made sure that purple was the primary choice, going to then-kit provider Umbro very early on in the preseason with the request.

New features of the jersey also included a white trim below the neckline and around the shoulders, making the purple even more evident for the 2012 Lions. The socks and shorts matched the top with the same royal purple color, meanwhile the socks had a break in the middle with a white bar emphasized with an Umbro logo.

Also new to the 2012 Orlando City jersey was the updated crest. A gold star was added below the three-headed lion in remembrance of City’s unforgettable 2011 USL PRO Championship victory. The new scudetto was also added to the jersey before the Lions with three crowns inside the outline of the Orlando City crest.

To take a look back at the video release of the exclusive purple kits by clicking here.

Be sure to check back after Christmas for the #1 moment of 2012 on OrlandoCitySoccer.com.