Celtic
will open a new chapter in their long and illustrious history with a brand new
home kit for the 2013-2014 season.
After
a momentous 125th anniversary campaign — notable for a stunning Champions
League victory over Barcelona, qualification for the knockout stages of the
Champions League and a domestic League and SFA Cup double — the Glasgow giants
have a new contemporary on-field look for next season. Their sights are fixed firmly on the future,
represented by exciting emerging talents such as Tom Rogic and Tony Watt.
As
legendary manager Jock Stein observed, “We don’t want to live with history…we
must make new legends."
On
the new home shirt, each of the club’s iconic green hoops is made of up seven
smaller hoops, which are inspired by some of the club’s greatest players — such
as Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson, who wore the No. 7 shirt.
The
shirt features a modern crossover V-neck collar, and a woven label inside the
neck features a quote from former Chairman Robert Kelly: “This Celtic Football
Club is much more than a football club. To a lot of people it’s a way of life.”
The
home shorts are white with a green stripe down each side, and the white home
socks feature the new hoop design with seven fully engineered thinner hoops as
featured in the shirt.
The
new kit showcases Nike's committment to aiding the performance of players with
key technological benefits:
RECYCLED
POLYESTER
·
The
kit is made from recycled polyester as part of Nike’s commitment to produce
performance apparel with reduced environmental impact. The shirt and shorts of
each kit are made from up to thirteen recycled plastic water bottles.
·
In
the pioneering process, plastic bottles are chopped into flakes, then melted
down to form yarn that is spun into fabric, reducing energy consumption by up
to 30 percent compared to manufacturing virgin polyester.
·
Since
2010, Nike has diverted more than 1.1 billion plastic bottles from landfills
through the use of recycled polyester.
FABRIC
AND NIKE DRI-FIT
·
The
kit weighs just 150 grams, 23 percent lighter than previous Nike kits. It also
boasts a 20 percent stronger knit structure and significantly improved stretch.
·
The
fabric uses Nike Dri-FIT technology to draw sweat away from the body through
the fabric where it can evaporate, to keep players cool and dry.
·
Ventilation
zones, consisting of tiny laser-cut holes, feature under the arms on both
sides, as well as at the shorts waistband, to allow additional comfort and
cooling. A mesh panel across the entire back increases air circulation.
FIT
AND CONSTRUCTION
·
The
shirt has been crafted with bonded T-bars to support the seams at key points
and inner welded seams with a clean finish to give a more striking appearance,
while also increasing comfort and performance.
NIKE
PRO COMBAT
·
To
complete the ultimate playing uniform for modern football, Nike Pro Combat
baselayer is supplied to be worn underneath the match-day kit, offering players
greater comfort and impact protection.
·
The
Nike Pro Combat range of long-sleeve and short-sleeve tops made of
sweat-wicking fabric allows players to keep cool and dry in hot conditions, and
warm and dry when the weather becomes cold. The slider shorts feature extra
padding and thigh protection to absorb impact so players can go to ground and
tackle with greater confidence.
