Sustainable innovation is at the core of Liverpool FC’s 21/22 home kit, complementing the gym red jersey with pops of bright crimson to signify the inspiration behind the next season’s kit.
The new Liverpool kit that players will wear on the pitch as well as the replica jerseys for the fans are constructed with 100% recycled polyester fabric, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. This creates the kits that helps deliver peak performance with a lower impact on the environment.
No other sport captures global attention like the beautiful game and we see this as an opportunity to scale more sustainable solutions in order to help protect the future of sport. As part of Nike’s wider Move to Zero initiative – a journey towards zero carbon and zero waste – we are focused in scaling the usage of lower-carbon material alternatives. Recycled polyester reduces carbon emissions by up to 30% compared to virgin polyester and that’s why since 2010 Nike has been using rPoly to produce football kits.
In 1964 the Reds introduced a full flooded red kit for the first time in the club’s history on the basis it would provide them with a psychological edge. The first time it was worn on a famous European night at Anfield, it was remarked by Shankly that there was a glow in the stadium that had never been seen before. The psychological edge was borne of the theory that the flood red would signify power and danger. This set the foundation for their dominance in football for years to come.
For this season’s home kit, the creative inspiration is derived directly from that decision with a full red kit representing power complemented by the injection of energy in the form of the glow of bright crimson with the bolted pinstripes representing this sense of danger.
There’s a juxtaposition of old and new seeping throughout, with history meeting contemporary style creating a jersey reflective of a city that’s at the forefront of fashion. In the green neck-tape, there’s a thread of stripes which are ever-present in the home collection. The kit is complete with a fossil swoosh, crest and sponsor, finished with bright crimson sleeve cuffs, neck-line and stripe on the sock.
“It’s great to see the perfect blend of our heritage and Nike’s product innovation for our new home kit,” says Virgil Van Dijk. “Being part of the swoosh family for years, they’ve been at the forefront of sustainable design and it goes a long way into making our sport a greener one. I can’t wait for the fans to see it in person next season.”
The 21/22 Liverpool FC home kit will be worn for the first time against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on 23 May. It will be available to Nike Members from 20 May from nike.com and on full retail from 3 June.
Each year, Nike diverts an average of one billion plastic bottles from landfills and waterways by creating and designing with recycled polyester. Plastic bottles are collected, cleaned and melted down to produce a high-quality yarn for manufacturing and is part of Nike’s wider Move to Zero initiative with football apparel leading the way in sustainability.
