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At Kukri Sports we believe that it is not only important to design modern, creative kit, but also take true inspiration from our partners’ history, ethos and values and build that vision into every one of our designs.
We wanted to showcase the extra thought and detail that go into some of our iconic kit designs as everything is not always as it seems and many of these extra details are not obvious to the naked eye but are part of the athlete stories and the rich history of the teams who wear them. So welcome to our new series of kit stories revealing the inspiration and attention to detail behind some of our most well-known designs.
Over the coming weeks we will be showcasing the stories behind some of our most iconic kit designs.
If you would like to learn more about any of our designs or are interested in how Kukri can help you with your sportswear and leisurewear contact us.
British Gymnastics
British Gymnastics is the sport’s governing body for gymnastics and Trampolining in the UK.
Since the partnership began in 2021 Kukri have and continue to provide bespoke leisure, podium and training wear for all performance programmes, National Teams and squads.
Inspiration
While collaborating closely with the client, the Kukri Design team identified three distinct ability levels within British Gymnastics that needed to be emphasized in their kit designs: Pathway, Junior, and Senior.
The central design theme for British sporting teams revolves around the Union Jack Flag. Keeping this in mind, the team aimed to create sportswear designs that incorporated this iconic element.
As athletes progress through the various levels, the prominence of the Union Jack on the kit evolves accordingly:
Pathway:
This represents the lowest discipline level.
The kit features a subtle tonal Union Jack on the side panel, designed not to be overly conspicuous.
Junior:
Athletes at the Junior level showcase their affiliation with a Union Jack displayed prominently on the front panel.
To maintain harmony with the base fabric colour, the Union Jack is rendered in a tonal shade.
Additionally, each sleeve is accented with contrasting colour mesh binding to introduce a touch of vibrancy.
Senior:
At the Senior level, the Union Jack on the kit’s front panel takes centre stage, making it the most prominent design element.
Similar to the Junior design, contrasting colour mesh binding adorns each sleeve to infuse more colour and energy into the overall design.
Rugby School
Located in Warwickshire, England, Rugby School are one of the most prestigious education establishments in the world and is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain (founded in 1567). To learn more about Rugby School visit www.rugbyschool.co.uk
Kukri recently announced a 10 year extension of their partnership with the school, where they offer a full range of bespoke sportswear for staff and pupils, both on and off field.
The Inspiration
At Rugby School they have a motto ‘The Whole Person, The Whole Point – Made Whole By Experience’.
This motto emphasizes the genuine aim of the school: equipping students with the skills, knowledge, assistance, and exposure necessary to transform them from a state of partial readiness for the broader world into fully developed individuals – Find out more.
Considering this information, the design team at Kukri Sports collaborated closely with the school to create a collection of customized sportswear that exemplified their goal for the students – to nurture a sense of completeness through their journey at the institution.
These designs incorporated patterns symbolizing the fundamental elements, or interconnected jigsaw pieces, forming a complete individual.
Everyone at Kukri takes great pride in seeing students wearing the kit, with full appreciation of the thought that has gone into the designs.
Yorkshire Vikings and the Northern Diamonds T20 Shirts – 2023
Directly affiliated with Yorkshire CCC, the most successful cricketing team in England, the Yorkshire Vikings are the clubs limited overs team, who compete in the T20 Blast competition each year.
The Northern Diamonds, a professional women’s cricket team, proudly represents Yorkshire and the North East. In 2022, they achieved their inaugural accolade by winning the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Lord’s.
The Inspiration
Working closely with Yorkshire Vikings and Northern Diamonds Kukri designed their latest T20 shirt designs for the 2023 season, These designs draw inspiration from and celebrate the rich regional cricketing heritage throughout the county.
Yorkshire and the surrounding northern counties have a strong cricketing history which dates back centuries and the region has been a hub for cricket development in recent years. Cricket has a deep cultural significance in the North and the sport is woven into the fabric of the counties identity making it a point of pride for the residents, especially in Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Vikings’ kit design pays homage to the 632 clubs affiliated with the Yorkshire Cricket Board, representing the diverse cricketing community across Yorkshire. On the other hand, the Northern Diamonds’ kit design incorporates all affiliated clubs that have a women’s and/or girls’ section, encompassing Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland. This nod to the cricketing community in the north and significantly Yorkshire is in keeping with our brand values which include being supportive, accessible and inclusive to everyone from grassroots players through to elite athletes. The ability to produce so many world class cricketers make Yorkshire one of the greatest counties in English cricket and we are proud to see so many clubs represented on the field by these two top flight teams.
This combination of unique and inspirational design, historical cricketing legacy and tradition, top flight players and the passion of the fans will collectively ensure Yorkshire’s enduring prominence in the world of cricket.
Team England
Commonwealth Games England leads and manages the participation of Team England, at the Commonwealth Games working closely with each sport’s National Governing Body, their funding partner Sport England, and the Games’ Organising Committee.
The Inspiration
As the official kit provider for Team England at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, our main objective was to craft kit designs that captured the pride and honour of representing your country whilst authentically representing the nation and drawing inspiration from the host city.
Although the colour palette predominantly drew from the traditional red and white of the St George’s Cross, the design concepts evolved over time and displayed meticulous attention to detail. Our design team conducted thorough extensive research in Birmingham to find sources of inspiration that could be seamlessly incorporated into the kit designs.
The Cube, one of Birmingham’s most iconic buildings, had a profound impact on the designs. It’s adorned structure, with various sizes of crosses, perfectly complemented the St George’s cross, which became a significant element of the designs.
Our quest for inspiration didn’t end there; the team also explored Centenary Square, which is home to Baskerville House, named after the renowned typographer John Baskerville. This visit sparked the idea to utilize the elegant Baskerville font across many of the kit designs.
Hidden Gold
To encourage the already strong aspirations for a place on the podium and a gold medal winning performance, a closer inspection of the kit and podium wear, highlights how often gold features throughout the designs, whether it be the trim, stitching, the drawcord or even zippers.
Concealed Medal Pocket
Among our collection of kit designs showcased at the games, the Ceremonial Track Top stood out as one of the most recognized and distinguished pieces. This exceptional track top not only boasts numerous golden details but also includes a discreet hidden internal pocket, thoughtfully designed to securely hold the prized medals of the winning athletes.
Many of the kits created for The Commonwealth Games in 2022 are now being proudly worn by the next generation of Team England athletes at this month’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago. As you watch the athletes compete, see if you can spot the myriad of hidden details within the kit designs, from our unique gold text over concealed zips to the subtle crosses woven into the fabric.
We wish all of Team England young athletes a successful and enjoyable games.
England Athletics
England Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in England. They are a not-for-profit membership and development body for grassroots athletics and running in England.
The Inspiration
We worked closely with England Athletics to interpret their needs and wants and to develop a truly iconic design that represents both club and country.
When brainstorming creative ideas that could influence the England Athletic kit designs the team at Kukri explored many different avenues and a concept was formulated which took direct inspiration from iconic shots of winning athletes at the end of a race holding a St George’s flag draped across their shoulders. This concept led to the modern interpretation of the St George’s Cross draped over the left side of the garment, so every athlete has a graphic representation of their country on display and over their heart while competing, spurring them on to glory and to be the best they can be.
It fills the team at Kukri with great pride when we see England Athletes competing in Kukri sportswear, which we hope will lead to many more victorious flag celebrations at the end of future competitions.
England Athletics currently support 1,650 affiliated clubs and organizations covering track, field, road running, fell, hill, trail, and cross-country clubs. With over 140,000 registered athletes, 30,000 licensed coaches and 5,450 officials. Since 2019 Kukri Sports have been the official kit supplier for England’s representative teams and England Athletics Masters, whilst offering a range for coaches, staff and technical officials, plus an extensive range of branded merchandise.
