Nike has been forced to admit that its expensive New England uniforms have a design flaw after intense backlash from supporters. The sportswear giant recently unveiled the Three Lions shirt design, which fans can purchase for £134.99. While the majority of complaints centered around the eye-watering price, many supporters were also quick to notice problems with the actual design itself.
Eagle-eyed fans took note of the stitching on the shoulders and identified an unsightly bulge that was totally unbecoming of such a high-end garment. This has led many people to turn to the black market, where counterfeit products made in China are available at a fraction of the price. The issue, which will affect players and supporters in France, Canada and Uruguay at this summer’s World Cup, has been officially acknowledged by Nike.
A Nike spokesperson told the Guardian: “During the recent international break, some minor issues were identified with the Nike national team uniforms, most notably near the shoulder seams.” “Performance is not affected, but the overall aesthetics are not where they need to be.
“We are a global team of best-in-class designers, creators, and dreamers who think every day about how to innovate, challenge ourselves, and take risks to advance beautiful games.”
“We always hold ourselves and our products to the highest standards, but this fell short. Every kit should reflect the care, precision and pride the game deserves, so we’re working quickly to make this right for our players and fans.”
The issue came to light during England’s recent friendly matches against Japan and Uruguay. This has sparked outrage on social media, with supporters furious at such a fundamental failure, with the kit labeled as a “total joke” and potentially hitting sales hard, especially considering the kit is the most expensive England kit of all time, even accounting for inflation.
This follows Nike’s declaration that the new England strip represents a “refreshed design approach that evolves England’s football identity for a new generation”.
They say, “At the heart of this vision is Nike’s Aero-FIT performance cooling technology, which leverages computer-aided design and a highly specialized, stitch-specific knitting process to help athletes stay cool under the extreme conditions expected throughout tournaments this summer.”
“Aero-FIT is Nike’s most advanced cooling apparel system, engineered at the thread and stitch level to create a highly textured knit that combines open and closed mesh zones to move air across the body and lift the fabric away from the skin. This technology provides more than twice the airflow of traditional fabrics, helping athletes stay cool and focused in hotter, more demanding environments.”
