Kit
features the best in performance innovation for the World’s Biggest Stage.
After
the final whistle at an ecstatic Stade de France, members of the French
National Team - Franck Ribery, Blaise Matuidi, Yohan Cabaye and Raphael Varane
- unveiled the new French National Team home kit to be worn in Brasil next
year. Combining the best in performance innovation with insightful design
details, the new French kit captures the innate style and national pride of
France with a sophisticated look.
ULTIMATE
IN COOLING AND COMFORT
Aiding
performance by regulating player body temperature over the course of match is a
primary focus for Nike’s design teams. Utilizing 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, and laser-cut 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, Nike is utilizing 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 benefits is a key part of the design and development process for
us,” said Lotti. “We consider every aspect of product creation across our
supply chain, including waste, chemistry and water usage outputs to create a
kit that performs for the players while bing good to the planet.”
PERFECT
FIT
Designers
used 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 also 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.
For
2014, Nike will offer 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
“In
addition to providing the best in performance innovation, our aim is to
celebrate the spirit of each country our kits represent,” said Lotti. “We looked at what French players were
wearing off-pitch, and they favored a classic, hand-crafted kind of style. We wanted to reflect this and give players
that same level of luxury and same idea of tailored fit.”
The
fabric detail of the French National Jersey is inspired by the story of Nîmes,
a town in the south of France. Nîmes was the birthplace of modern denim, and
the fabric takes its name from the town (literally ‘de Nîmes’). Nîmes is
historically known for its textiles and patterns and the landscape of Nîmes is
said to have inspired today’s rugged denim as well as the silk shawls worn
throughout Europe in the 18th century.
This paradox between raw denim and elegant silk mirrored Nike designers’
desire to create a beautiful design aesthetic for the French home shirt.
“The
Nîmes fabric story inspired us to use the twill texture and 45 degree angle of
classic denim combined with a focus on beautiful craftsmanship,” said Lotti.
The
design team spent time refining the home kit’s collar focusing on comfort and
beauty. The collar and side-hem also feature a selvedge-like accent.
The
crest features a new design inspired by the 1958 crest and reflects players’
feedback of wanting to “feel the history of our country”. The cockerel-design has been enlarged, freed
from its badge and given the space to again become the ultimate symbol of
French national pride. It's also beautifully embroidered just above the heart
and on the bottom of each player’s number, and a flag is placed on the inside
of the neck on each kit.
“Representing
France is the ultimate honor,” said Blaise Matuidi. “When we play it is for our fans and our
country – we want to make them proud. The new home kit is a symbol of French
elegance with the technology that will help us perform at our best in Brasil.”
The
shorts are a classic white with venting to assist in cooling, and a cut
specifically designed to aid movement and comfort. Simple and iconic, the fit is slimmer and
more tailored to the body based on fit research 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.
