Nike Football Unveils 2014 Korea National Team Kit

Nike unveiled the Korea national team kit that will be worn in Brasil this summer.

Korea national team player Myung-Won Seo unveiled the kit at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul.

Combining Nike’s finest performance innovations with powerful national symbols, the new home kit for Korea’s national football team captures their renowned tenacity and spirit on the field, and prepares them to compete in Brasil this summer.

“In addition to providing the best in performance innovation and the ultimate in cooling, our aim is to also celebrate the spirit and pride of each country,” said Martin Lotti, Creative Director for Nike Football.

Nike’s design team achieved this by using the Taegeuk, the yin and yang circle symbol found at the center of the Korean flag, to reflect the balanced and harmonious team spirit of the Korean national team.

The vibrant red jersey shows the interlocking shapes of the Taegeuk at the top of each sleeve in blue. These shapes give the jersey a modern appearance and match the contours of the players’ bodies.

“The Korean shirt is filled with the aspirations of a nation,” said Korean National Team midfielder SungYueng Ki. “This year in Brasil, with a shirt that expresses the balance of the yin and yang, we will look to reach new heights as a team on  football's biggest stage." 

The design team also wanted to give Korea a unique collar inspired by classic Korean attire, resulting in the red collar with prominent blue piping.

Inside the back of the neck, a pennant tab features a Tuhon symbol from traditional Korean calligraphy that translates as "fighting spirit," representing the essential quality of Korean football.

ULTIMATE IN COOLING AND COMFORT

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, “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 ventilation 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 Lotti.  

In addition, to help keep 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 Korea 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.”

PERFECT FIT

Designers utilized three-dimensional body scans of elite footballers to collect data on the physique of today’s players and identify an updated fit — improving comfort and allowing the body to move more naturally within the kit.

The new royal blue shorts have a slimmer fit and are more tailored to the body, with a cut specifically designed to aid movement and comfort. The center back of the shorts features Nike’s signature laser vents to aid in cooling and allow for moisture management.

While looking at every element of the modern football kit, Nike designers even paid special attention to the kits’ socks. The new home socks are red.

Combining athlete insight and research with new materials and fabrications, the Nike 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 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 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 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.

The Korea kit will be available in Nike stores and on www.nike.com from March 5.