To
celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the KNBV (Royal Dutch
Football Association), the 2014 jersey sports a striking new crest. This
features an enlarged white lion to symbolize a new era in Dutch football and
the team’s core values of simplicity, honor and unity.
“We
wanted to mark this historic moment for The Netherlands with a new kit and a
new crest that celebrates the past, but also represents the start of an
exciting new period for Dutch Football,” said Martin Lotti, Global Creative
Director, Nike Football.
The
lion has been used on The Dutch kits since 1907. In the 1960s and '70s, it was
shown as large and free, but in black, while in recent times, only its head has
been shown wearing a crown. For 2014, this proud and rampant lion is white and
larger to represent the pride of Holland and the unity of its players.
The
new Dutch jersey is in traditional orange with a modern V-neck collar, and
provides a classic and clean canvas on which to showcase the new crest. Beneath the crest is the Royal Dutch Football
Association’s founding year of 1889, along with 2014 to commemorate its 125th
anniversary.
The
kit design is restrained, but hidden inside the cuff is white trim, which can
be turned out to suit individual player preferences. Inside the back of the
neck is an orange pennant tab showcasing the crown that sits upon the lion’s
head on the Association’s own crest.
Nike
also collaborated with the legendary Dutch graphic designer and typographer Wim
Crouwel to create new names and numbers. Crouwel used the back of the Dutch
home jersey as a canvas to specially create a modern font, which also possesses
a retro aesthetic. The lines inside the numbers are reminiscent of the numbers
famously seen in football in the 1970s. To lend a further stamp of authority,
each number also houses a small Royal Dutch Football Association crest at the
bottom.
Dutch
player Kevin Strootman, said: “The new 125th anniversary kit captures our
unique football heritage perfectly, and the new Lion crest celebrates the pride
we have as a team to pull on the jersey and represent our country.”
Simple
and iconic, the new shorts are white and feature a slimmer and more tailored
fit. Based on fit research the cut is specifically designed to aid movement and
comfort. The center back of the shorts feature Nike’s signature laser vents to
aid in cooling and allow for moisture management. The new home socks are also
orange.
The
kit aids performance by helping regulate player body temperature over the
course of a match. By using a combination of Nike Dri-FIT technology, mesh
panels and laser-cut ventilation holes, designers are able to localize cooling
where players need it most.
Nike
Dri-FIT technology pulls moisture away from the skin to the outside of the
garment where it evaporates quickly. Laser-cut ventilation holes and engineered
mesh in key areas allow for increased breathability and airflow across the
skin.
“By
managing sweat and keeping the body cooler longer, players feel more
comfortable, sweat less and perform better,” said Lotti.
In
addition to helping players stay cool, the kit is made with a new dual-knit
fabrication that incorporates cotton and recycled polyester for the best in
moisture-wicking properties, while adding a softer feel and more flattering
shape.
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In
line with Nike’s commitment to superior performance with lower environmental
impact, the shirt, short — and for the first time in a national team kit, the
socks — all feature fabric made from recycled plastic bottles (100 percent
recycled polyester in the shorts, 96 percent recycled polyester in the shirt
and 78 percent in the socks). Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled
plastic bottles. Since 2010, Nike has diverted almost two billion bottles from
landfills, enough to cover more than 2,800 full-sized football pitches.
“Incorporating
environmental sustainability is a key part of the design and development
process for us,” said Lotti. “Our aim is to create a kit that performs for
players and is good to the planet.”
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Designers
utilized three-dimensional body scans of elite footballers to collect data on
the form of today’s players and identify an updated fit, improving comfort and
allowing the body to move more naturally within the kit.
While
looking at every element of the modern football kit, Nike designers even paid
special attention to the kits’ socks. Combining athlete insights and research
with new materials and fabrications, the Nike Elite Match Fit sock for 2014
features a sleeker fit specific to football. Strategically cushioned zones provide
comfort and protection at the big toe and anklebones where the majority of
impact occurs, while arch support locks down the foot to help prevent slipping.
Material was also eliminated to enhance touch and decrease bulk, and flex
grooves were added to the ankle and the top of the foot to prevent bunching.
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The
new Nike Pro baselayer is the lightest ever from Nike and features increased
venting and breathability.
Players
have a variety of Nike Pro baselayer styles for players to choose from. These
are designed for the varying temperatures and conditions athletes will
encounter in Brasil, which are expected to vary from high heat during mid-day
matches, to much colder temperatures in the southern match locations during
evening games.
Nike
has redesigned its baselayer short for 2014 taking insights directly from some
of the best players in the world.
“When
we asked players to talk about the kind of protection they need during a match,
they showed us scars and abrasions on their upper-back hip area from sliding,”
recalled Lotti. “Several players showed us these same injuries so we set out to
add more protection, while balancing the need for lightweight breathability.”
The
result is the Nike Pro Combat Ultralight Slider Short. Featuring increased and
adjusted abrasion protection zones to match the athlete’s sliding pattern, the
short is also 20 percent lighter than previous versions and made with 87
percent recycled polyester. Weight was eliminated through the addition of mesh
for increased breathability and cooling where the athlete generates heat.
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