Nike are kicking off their 2020 kit game with three stunning collections for three of their most expressive nations. Nigeria, the USA and South Korea have each unveiled their statement home and away designs for this landmark year as the Swoosh combine art and football for another drop of colossal creativity.
No one can argue that Nike have shifted their focus to a much more in-depth style when it comes to designing their nations kits, and for 2020 that trend is enhanced further as the brand celebrate the unique histories and cultures of their national teams. Building upon the learnings from the immensely successful 2018 Nigeria Collection, Nike undertook deep cultural immersions and collaborated with each federation to ensure the designs truly resonated. From hand-drawn prints to custom fonts, each team’s look will be its own. Counter to templatization, Nike designers had 65 chassis options available to them across varying necklines, sleeves, cuffs, badge placement, etc.
Nike have got the ball rolling with three teams revealed today, but you can look forward to more bespoke creativity in the next few months as the Swoosh are set to reveal shirts for their remaining federations. Oh and we have noticed the boots the models are wearing… this way for more on those.
Nigeria
In 2018, Naija changed the game with a collection for the ages that set a new standard for how Nike approaches federation design. It achieved 3 million pre-orders, sold out, re-stocked, and sold out time and time again. In 2020, Nigeria pick up right where they left off with a home kit that fuses the traditional aesthetic of an agbada robe with modern football design. The kit’s pattern was hand drawn and is highly symbolic of Nigerian heritage with nods to nobility and family. Nigeria’s crest is placed centrally on the chest with a Swoosh underneath it. The player names and numbers integrate the eagle feather into the application. “Naija” appears inside the neck of jersey and on the back of the socks in a new typeface.
The away kit is inspired by Onaism, a traditional artistic movement central to Nigerian design and craft represented in the trim details. An eagle feather aesthetic, creatively distorted, continuously repeats in ascending size to create a visual impact. The collar has a slight V overlap with a thicker overlap in the back. Both the collar and the sleeves feature a slight nick at the mid-point.
Nike have got the ball rolling with three teams revealed today, but you can look forward to more bespoke creativity in the next few months as the Swoosh are set to reveal shirts for their remaining federations. Oh and we have noticed the boots the models are wearing… this way for more on those.
Nigeria
In 2018, Naija changed the game with a collection for the ages that set a new standard for how Nike approaches federation design. It achieved 3 million pre-orders, sold out, re-stocked, and sold out time and time again. In 2020, Nigeria pick up right where they left off with a home kit that fuses the traditional aesthetic of an agbada robe with modern football design. The kit’s pattern was hand drawn and is highly symbolic of Nigerian heritage with nods to nobility and family. Nigeria’s crest is placed centrally on the chest with a Swoosh underneath it. The player names and numbers integrate the eagle feather into the application. “Naija” appears inside the neck of jersey and on the back of the socks in a new typeface.
The away kit is inspired by Onaism, a traditional artistic movement central to Nigerian design and craft represented in the trim details. An eagle feather aesthetic, creatively distorted, continuously repeats in ascending size to create a visual impact. The collar has a slight V overlap with a thicker overlap in the back. Both the collar and the sleeves feature a slight nick at the mid-point.
The broader Naija collection will feature an extensive array of Super Eagles apparel including a poncho, vest, dress and more. Oh, and you’ll want all of it.
