DALLAS, Dec 14, 2008 / FW/ — Last Dec 6, during the 109th Army-Navy football game, Nike launched the ‘Enforcer’ football uniforms for both the Army and Navy teams that is being touted as the next evolution of lightweight football uniforms.
Lightweight, breathable and more form-fitting, the Nike ‘Enforcer’ uniforms promise superior field performance. The uniforms provide greater moisture management and reduction of grab points, and as the case with the Army and Navy teams, they also incorporated inspiration from two of the nation’s military units in its design.
During the 2008 Olympic Games, Michael Phelps shot himself to world fame by winning 8 gold medals wearing LZR Racer, a high-tech swimwear by Speedo.
Two different sports with two different needs, yet the uniforms have one thing in common – the silhouette is slim to the point that it can even be said that it is shrink-wrap for the body.
Designed by engineers, the uniforms were created with performance in mind; the looks secondary. Not that they look bad; they actually look good. But, these uniforms are more of engineering feats than fashion design winners. Nonetheless, they are also the perfect marriage of form and function.
Interestingly enough, sports companies are very aware of the importance of fashion design. Adidas and Puma have ongoing collaborations with Yohji Yamamoto, Alexander McQueen and Neil Barrett.
As already mentioned here before, innovations in menswear are usually very subtle and at times, very hard to discern during the fast-paced catwalk shows. But, form and function always prevails in menswear designs. Be it a slight change of angle in the pockets or a change of the number of buttons on the sleeves, including the introduction of new fabric, menswear designers always find that perfect balance between looking great and utilitarianism.
[MARI DAVIS]
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