Belleville Three

In honor of Black History Month, the Detroit Pistons will spotlight the revolutionary techno pioneers, the Belleville Three. This Three-piece capsule pays homage to the group widely recognized as the originators of the techno genre, while also drawing a parallel to their rise in global influence during the same era as the Pistons’ championship runs. Kicking off our month of black excellence, the capsule celebrates the Belleville Three’s legacy as true disruptors and trendsetters. Artists who reshaped culture from Detroit to the world.

Black cap with 'Belleville' and 'Detroit Pistons' text on a table

Techno Blvd Hat

A celebration of Detroit’s techno roots fused with the iconic Pistons logo. With a side patch honoring the street home to the studio where the Belleville Three first made history.

*-Photos shot by Vuhlandes at 1492 Gratiot Avenue, the original Belleville Three studio

Techno Constellation Hoodie

Rooted in Afrofuturism and techno, this design weaves together cultural icons and celestial imagery, honoring both the pioneers of the movement and the cosmic energy that defines it. 

Techno Ship Tee

A tribute to the architects of techno, this shirt captures the innovative and soulful spirit of the Belleville Three. The originators, innovators, and elevators of a global sound.

Four people wearing blue hoodies with a graphic design in a modern indoor setting.

Juan Atkins coined the term “techno” after reading futurist Alvin Toffler’s The Third Wave, imagining a sound that reflected technology, progress, and a post-industrial future. Years before the genre went global.

*-Left to right: DJ Killasquid, Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale, Sheefy McFly, DJ Godfather

Blue and black items with artistic designs on a white surface

Though deeply tied to Detroit’s Black musical legacy, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson met as teenagers in Belleville, Michigan. From there, they built a sound that would redefine electronic music worldwide.

Two people wearing Detroit-themed clothing and hats in a casual setting.

The Belleville Three drew influence from artists like Kraftwerk, yet transformed those mechanical sounds into something soulful, rhythmic, and deeply rooted in Black American music, creating a futuristic sound that was both global and unmistakably Detroit.