Nike’s new England away kit evokes the team’s rich history, national pride and distinctive style. The kit sees the welcome return of England’s most popular and evocative red away color. First worn in 1951, England famously wore red shirts when they won the World Cup at Wembley in 1966.
The new away shirt is a modern classic with an entirely red body reflecting the pride and passion of England’s loyal fans. The shirt also speaks to England’s uniquely understated style heritage with a tailored collar. The placket has two buttons; the bottom one is red, while the top one is white with red thread to replicate the St George’s cross.
To celebrate the Football Association’s 150th anniversary, the iconic three lions crest is rendered in gold on the away shirt. A gold star above the crest celebrates England’s win in 1966; a gold ribbon graphic beneath proudly displays ”150 years” and the dates 1863 - 2013. The away shorts are white with another gold crest on the front, while the socks are red with a thin white band at the top.
The kit showcases Nike’s belief in style, craft and pride while aiding the performance of players with key technological features. 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 landfill through the use of recycled polyester.
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.
To aid fit and construction, Nike embarked on an innovative programme of 3D body scans of some of the world’s leading players to produce a more athletic fit tailored to footballers’ physiques. 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.
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