Nike Football Unveils 2014 Brasilian National Kit

Nike today unveiled the new Brasil National Team home kit at an event in Rio de Janeiro.  The kit, which will be worn by the hosts next summer, combines performance innovation, cultural design cues and environmentally sustainable materials.

"It is a great honor and it fills me with pride to present the new shirt of the Selecao to the fans in Rio," said Luiz Gustavo of the Brasilian National Team.

ULTIMATE IN COOLING AND COMFORT

The kit aids performance by regulating player body temperature over the course of match. By using a combination of Nike Dri-FIT Technology, “burnout” mesh 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 more quickly. Laser-cut venitilation holes and engineered mesh in key areas where heat is generated 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 Martin Lotti, Creative Director for Nike Football.  

In addition to keeping players 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.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

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% recycled polyester in the shorts, 96% recycled polyester in the shirt and 78% in the socks).  Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles. Since 2010, Nike has diverted almost 2 billion bottles from landfills, enough to cover over 2800 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.”

PERFECT FIT

Designers utilized three dimensional body scans of the entire Brasilian National Team 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 insight 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 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 any bunching.

NIKE PRO BASELAYER

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 and breathability.”

The result is the Nike Pro Combat Ultralight Slider Short.  Featuring increased and adjusted protection to match the athlete’s sliding pattern, the short is also 20% lighter than previous versions and made with 87% recycled polyester.  Weight was eliminated through the addition of mesh for increased breathability and cooling where the athlete generates heat.

‘SOULFUL’ DESIGN

Captivated by the unique creativity of Brasil, Nike’s design team sought to reflect some of its unique and distinct cultures  in the new National Team Kit design, while staying true to the culture and tradition of the yellow jersey.

“The Brasilian home kit is like a national flag; it symbolizes the country and its people,” said Lotti. “We wanted to create a fusion of the high speed brilliance of football and the culture of Brasil while staying true to what the home kit represents.”

The jersey features a new Y-neck design that provides both a relaxed fit and comfortable look.  After body scanning each member of the Brasilian National team, Nike designers utilized player body scans and their own insights to develop a neckline that maximizes comfort and great fit.

The Brasilian crest has also been updated.  A gold colored metallic weave was added to the crest for a shimmering effect, and the 2014 crest is slightly larger.  Behind the crest, on the inside of the jersey, is a printed slogan “Nascido para jogar futebol”- Brasilian Portuguese for “Born to Play Football”.  Nike has also worked with Brasilian Designer Bruno Big to deliver a unique and nationally relevant mark of pride at the inner back neck of each jersey. The home kit features a small yellow canary motif representing “Canarinho”, the nickname given to the team when they wear the yellow home jersey.

"To wear the 'amarelinha' is an honor for me and my teammates," says Brazil star Neymar. "Brasil is a very special place to play football, and we want to play hard and win for our country.  This kit helps us to do that with both the technology and the inspiration it provides.”

The shorts are a classic Brasilian Varsity Royal with a white stripe.  Simple and iconic, the fit is slimmer and more tailored to the body, with a cut 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.

Even the name and number on each kit have been carefully designed, with micro fine pinholes for moisture management and cooling, and a fluorescent outline to aid visibility. The style of the name and number is inspired by the classic fonts widely used on Brasilian hand printed street posters.  All jerseys worn by players and sold in Brasil are made in Brasil.

The Brasil kit is now available in Nike stores and on nike.com for pre-order from November 24th and will be for sale worldwide from December 5th.