Nike has acknowledged a design flaw in the new England World Cup kit causing an unsightly shoulder bulge, with fans labelling the £134.99 shirt a ‘complete joke’ and turning to cheaper knock-offs
Nike have admitted that their costly new England strips does contain a design flaw after facing criticism from supporters. The sportswear giant recently revealed their Three Lions’ jerseys, which can retail at £134.99.
While the majority of grievances centred on the extortionate pricing, numerous fans also swiftly spotted an issue with the actual design. Sharp-eyed supporters focused on the shoulder stitching, identifying an unsightly bulge on a pricey garment.
This has encouraged many to seek alternatives on the black market, where Chinese replicas are available for a fraction of the cost. And the defect, which will impact players and supporters of France, Canada and Uruguay at the World Cup this summer, has now been recognised by Nike.
“During the recent international break, we observed a minor issue with our Nike national team kits, most noticeable around the shoulder seam,” a Nike spokesperson told the Guardian. “Performance is unaffected, but the overall aesthetic is not where it needs to be.
“We are a global team of best-in-class designers, creators and dreamers who spend every day thinking about how to innovate, challenge ourselves, and take risks that push the beautiful game.”
“We always hold ourselves and our products to the highest standards and this fell short. We’re working quickly to make this right for players and fans, because every kit should reflect the care, precision and pride that the game deserves.”
The issue was clearly evident during England’s recent friendlies against Japan and Uruguay. It has ignited social media, with supporters livid over a problem which has been branded “a complete joke”. And it could affect sales as it’s the most costly England strip in history.
This follows Nike celebrating their new England kit as “a refreshed design approach that evolves England’s football identity for a new generation.”
They declared: “Central to this vision is Nike’s Aero-FIT performance cooling technology, which leverages computational design and a highly specialized, stitch-specific knitting process to help athletes stay cool in the extreme conditions anticipated throughout this summer’s tournament.”
“Aero‐FIT is Nike’s most advanced cooling apparel system, engineered at the yarn and stitch level to create a highly texturized knit that combines open and closed mesh zones to move air across the body and lift the fabric off the skin. This technology delivers more than twice the airflow of legacy fabrics – helping athletes stay cool and focused in hotter, more demanding environments.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.