FC Barcelona have always been a bit unique with their kits. For the last 10 years, the Spanish soccer club has been committed to a special partnership with humanitarian organization UNICEF, which has seen the club actually contribute to UNICEF in order to put the organization’s sponsorship on their jerseys.
Now FC Barcelona is doing even more good with their famous maroon and blue striped uniforms. Thanks to Nike’s new AeroSwift technology, the material that the jerseys will be knitted from in the upcoming season is constructed with recycled polyester fabric. They took the idea of their Flyknit shoes, which are stitched together to create minimal waste, and applied that same sort of mindset to their uniforms, but with saving even more waste in mind.
Get The Latest Sports Tech News In Your Inbox!
The shorts and shirts for next season will be created with around 16 recycled plastic bottles, which are melted down to a fine yarn and then knitted to craft the actual uniform.
The reigning Spanish champions’ jerseys will now be doing doubly good next season, with the sustainable make and the UNICEF logo on the back.
In addition to being a more environmentally friendly option, Nike believes that the process of single and double stitching these shirts and shorts also enhances breathability, stretch and fit more than previous versions of the jersey.
Nike has put forward some impressive numbers with AeroSwift technology’s ability on the field. According to the company, these new jerseys wick away sweat 20 percent faster, dry 25 percent quicker, are 10 percent lighter and they possess 50 percent more stretch than Nike’s last uniform for FC Barcelona.
It looks as if every Nike soccer uniform next season will be built with AeroSwift technology, as even Mexican soccer team Club America have announced their new away jersey in coordination with AeroSwift.
Nike has dubbed their new jersey “Nike Vapor,” and it has not only been utilized for the world of soccer. A number of basketball teams at this summer’s Olympics in Rio will be sporting Nike Vapor uniforms, including Team USA.