Take a look at the new Nike x Liverpool Football Club home kit that will be available worldwide on August 6.
The past month saw some iconic collaborations, from cognac and art to fashion and automobiles. This August, Liverpool Football Club and Nike kick off the former’s 2020-21 home kit – the first collaboration of an exciting multi-year partnership between two sports icons. This partnership sees Nike as Liverpool FC’s official kit supplier.
“We are very excited to be partnering with a global icon like Liverpool FC. This strategic partnership will reinforce Nike’s position as the best and most inclusive football brand in the world,” said Bert Hoyt, the VP/GM of Nike EMEA. “As next season kicks off, we look forward to supplying the club and its supporters with innovative, stylish collections while furthering our shared ambition to inspire youth and future generations through brilliant football.”
Billy Hogan, Liverpool FC MD and CCO also echoed his sentiments about this exciting partnership in a statement: “We’re so excited to be starting this journey with Nike, the global leader in sports apparel and we look forward to working together to bring performance and lifestyle product to our supporters in the year ahead.”
As this collaboration marks an important moment for both LFC and Nike, the 2020-21 home kit is a celebration of it. It honours the past, while setting the tone for future collections. The new home kit features the traditional red jersey, and red shorts and socks. The brighter red exudes youth and vibrancy, complementing the traditional white and the introduction of teal to the home jersey.
The red, white and teal has been a traditional colour combination for LFC over the years, especially since it relates to the traditional club crest. The teal holds a more significant symbolic connection to the city of Liverpool, through the Liver Birds that sit proudly while overlooking the city, and have been a prominent fixture on the Liverpool Football club jersey since the club’s inception in 1892.
“I’ve been part of the Nike family for six years, and we have an incredible relationship,” said defender Virgil van Dijk. “I’m very familiar with the quality of the design and innovation that goes into making a kit like this. Stepping out as champions next season in this kit will be really special.”
The home jersey sports a stylish V-neck collar with white and teal colour-blocked stripes. Stripes also appear on the trim of the sleeves, and form hoops around the tops of the socks. The 96 emblem is found on the nape of the neck, encased by the eternal flames, in memory of the 96 children, women, and men who lost their lives at Hillsborough.
Another proud feature of the kit showcases the latest in Nike performance innovation for fit and moisture management. In-line with the brand’s commitment to sustainability, the LFC kits are constructed with 100% recycled polyester fabric, made from recycled plastic bottles.
Nike will also be realising new ways for fans to get first access to products, connect with their favourite athletes, highlight stories from the Liverpool community, while championing the next wave of young creatives from the city – all for Nike members through their official site and the Nike App.
The LFC x Nike partnership will also see the latter committing to support a local community initiative in Toxteth. As part of Nike’s ‘Made to Play’ commitment to get kids moving through play and sport, Nike, alongside the Anfield Wrap, is working with Earl Jenkins and Kingsley United – who play from the Tiber Street Partnership – to lower barriers to entry, and offer play and sport-based programming for young people aged 4-16 in the community. This includes a bursary scheme for a BAME coaching course, a BAME youth leadership forum in partnership with other organisations in the city, and for Toxteth-based Kingsley United to create a girls’ team. Nike will also be supporting school holiday and summer camps operated by trained coaches in a safe environment.
Nike will not only outfit the men’s, women’s and academy teams, they will also dress the coaching staff. The brand will also be providing support for the vital work of the LFC Foundation, the club’s official charity. Fans can order from nike.com or download the Nike App on the App Store or Google Play before the jersey becomes available to fans from retailers worldwide on August 6, 2020.
Photos: Nike