Nike, along with Team Captain and striker Sunil Chhetri and midfielder Lenny Rodrigues (Football Players Association of India’s player of the Year), today released new home and away kits for the Indian national football team. The Indian national football team will debut the new home kit on-pitch in the August 14 friendly match against Tajikistan.

At the launch in New Delhi, India, All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Nike India announced that Nike will remain the official apparel sponsor of the India national football team until 2017. Nike will continue to provide federation team kits across all age groups in India.

“Through our partnership, Nike has always provided our players with the best in design and innovation to focus on their performance,” said Kushal Das, General Secretary, All India Football Federation (AFF). “These new kits continue this commitment to excellence and the latest technology advancements. We are extremely pleased that Nike will continue as the official apparel sponsor of the Indian Football team until 2017, and we truly believe that this partnership will grow from strength to strength.”

The Indian team will represent their country in striking new home and away kits designed to build on the passion and loyalty of a growing supporter base in India. The home jersey features contrasting blue stripes, paired with blue sapphire woven shorts and matching Nike elite football socks. The jersey also features an AIFF badge that reflects the symbol of the Indian football team.

The away kit, worn by Lenny Rodrigues at the unveiling, features orange blaze on white. With matching white shorts and Nike elite socks, it is sure to stand out on pitch. The kits reflect Nike’s commitment to produce performance apparel with reduced environmental impact; each is made with 100-percent recycled polyester.

“At Nike, we are constantly striving to bring the latest innovation to help all our athletes perform better,” said Avinash Pant, Marketing Director, Nike India. “Today’s game is faster, more technical and physical; hence it is our endeavor to provide our athletes with the best products that will give them a competitive edge on pitch.”

Nike’s design reflects the latest performance innovation, design and fit to keep players 100-percent focused on the game.

RECYCLED POLYESTER
• The home and away kits are 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 diverted more than 1.1 billion plastic bottles from landfills though the use of recycled polyester.

FABRIC AND NIKE DRI-FIT
• Both kits weigh just 145 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.

FIT AND CONSTRUCTION
• This season, the home and away kit have a more athletic and dynamic fit. Nike employed an innovative program of 3D body scanning of some of the world’s leading footballers to produce a design more tailored to the contours of their bodies.
• 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.

The new India home and away kits will be exclusively available at the House of Football in Mumbai and Delhi, and through myntra.com.

(Nike Press Release)