In a departure from the diagonal stripes proudly sported by last season’s double-title champions and South Africa’s most celebrated club, the Kaizer Chiefs’ new home kit goes back to basics with the return of the gold jersey for the upcoming season, which kicks off in August. In keeping with the club’s traditional gold and black colours, the new jersey pays homage to the club’s rich heritage, evoking memories of the team’s first league title in the 1970s. The new kit references the success of the “Glamour Boys” of this period and is further inspired by the Chiefs’ return to glory with its 2012-13 season victory.
The classically-styled gold jersey features a black collar and black trim on the sleeves. The iconic “Chief” insignia is embossed on the inside back of the neck, a point of pride for Kaizer Chiefs players. The new home shorts are black, paired with gold socks with a solid black stripe.
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 13 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 help 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. 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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