Mark Van Bommel, Clarence Seedorf and Luca Antonini

See below for the official release:

Somewhere between innovation and tradition, true to the style of adidas and AC Milan – for the 2011/12 jersey, the three-stripe label has decided to combine its most innovative technology with a design reminiscent of the Rossoneri strips of the early twentieth century.

The launch, too, was structured along the same lines – journalists from the traditional media and bloggers gathered at adidas Italy’s Brand Center in Monza but Milan fans from across Italy and the world were also able to attend the unveiling of the new strip and to ask the guests in attendance questions by means of live streaming at adidas.com.

Guests at the event

• Adriano Galliani – CEO and Vice President of AC Milan
• Salem Obaidalla, – Senior Vice President Commercial Operations (Europe and Russian Federation) of Emirates
• Jean Michel Granier – CEO of adidas Italy

The star models of the new kit were Rossoneri players Clarence Seedorf, Mark Van Bommel and Luca Antonini.  The event was hosted by familiar television personality, and avid AC Milan fan, Daniele Bossari.  The strip will be worn for the first time on May 15th for the penultimate game of the league against Cagliari.

Design of the strip

AC Milan Jersey

• Reverting once again to the thinner 2cm-wide stripes compared to the 9cm-wide ones of last year
• There are 21 stripes in total, 11 of which are black and 10 red
• The white crew neck stands out with three stripes on the sleeves, which are white for the first time, on a red inset
• The back of the collar bears the words “Associazione Calcio Milan” underneath the Italian flag to highlight the fact that Milan is one of the best-known symbols of Italy around the world
• Reference to the colors of the Italian flag can be found on the insets at the sides on the front of the shirt as well as on the shorts
  and socks

Technology:

Next season, AC Milan players will be able to choose whether to wear the TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB uniform as a single layer or
whether to wear the base layers under the FORMOTION(tm) uniform, which has a traditional fit.

TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB is the most innovative technology used for sportswear. Thanks to the use of special compression fabrics and the application of TPU strips at specific areas of the body, the TECHFIT(tm) layers are able to concentrate muscular energy to the maximum to give the athlete explosive power, acceleration and resistance, whilst reducing muscle vibration, improving the athlete’s posture, the feel of their body and level of core stability in order to guarantee not just any performance but record-breaking performance.  Worn all together (shirt, shorts and socks), the TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB kit is able to increase players’ power by 5.3%*, their jump height by 4%*, their sprinting speed by 1.1%* and their efficiency by 0.8%*.   adidas TECHFIT(tm) PowerWEB kits, worn as a single layer, are 45% lighter than the classic two-piece kit worn together.

The ForMotion(tm) strip sees the use of three-dimensional and elastic fabrics which adapt perfectly to the body of the player and subsequently improve the fit of the
strip in order to optimize movement, comfort and increase freedom of action.  The addition of adidas ClimaCool(tm) and adidas FlowMapping(tm) ensures optimum breathability and helps the Rossoneri players to maintain an ideal body temperature, even under pressure.

adidas is the leading brand in world football and provides the official ball for all major tournaments organised by UEFA, FIFA and the IOC. The partnership between adidas and AC Milan is one of the most solid and long-lasting relationships – having begun in 1998, it has been renewed up until 2017 with an extension to the rights as
Master licensee. A new feature is to be added to the many synergies already in place, from the Milan Junior Camp to the activities which help to make Fondazione Milan projects a reality.

PORTLAND, Ore. – March 25, 2010

adidas TECHFIT: Chicago Fire (front)

adidas TECHFIT: DC United (back)

Until recently, TECHFIT PowerWeb has been more commonly worn under a player’s uniform as compression apparel; but the new adidas MLS uniforms offer TECHFIT built into the actual jersey giving players the benefits of TECHFIT in a single layer.

“At adidas we are all about equipping athletes with the most innovative gear and apparel on the planet,” said Antonio Zea, Director of Soccer, adidas America. “With TECHFIT now built into their jerseys, we are helping athletes from Chicago Fire, D.C. United and LA Galaxy play to their highest potential and we look forward to watching them perform at the top of their game this season.”

TECHFIT PowerWeb is a cutting edge athletic apparel technology that improves muscular endurance and responsiveness, and reduces muscle vibration, ultimately maximizing the athlete’s performance. Through the use of compression fabrics and strategically placed TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane) bands, located in key areas to enhance muscle power, TECHFIT is proven to increase a player’s power by 5.3 percent^*, vertical leap by 4 percent^*, sprint speed by 1.1 percent* and enhance endurance by 0.8 percent^*.

The TECHFIT jersey as worn by the players on the pitch will be specially packaged and retail for $150 starting in July.

adidas TECHFIT: LA Galaxy (detail)

All other MLS teams will wear the adidas FORMOTION uniform. FORMOTION is engineered to move naturally with the athlete’s body resulting in an ideal fit and comfort while in motion. It also features adidas CLIMACOOL technology which combines a moisture wicking fabric and mesh construction in the player’s highest heat zones to improve body ventilation and keep the athlete at optimum temperature. The FORMOTION uniform is designed to partner with traditional TECHFIT PowerWeb compression apparel.

adidas, the number one soccer brand in the world, is the official athletic sponsor and licensed product supplier to MLS. adidas TECHFIT PowerWeb uniforms will also be worn this summer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. adidas will outfit 12 federations at the 2010 FIFA World Cup – more than any other brand – with the ultimate in personalized soccer uniform kits. Federations with the option of TECHFIT uniforms include South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Germany and France.

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While we at AVID Soccer cannot substantiate the performance claims, they do seem reasonable.  The most dramatic example of this was the Speedo swimsuits worn in the last Summer Games  The reduced vibration will not have the same effect in the air that it does in the water, but it will focus the players energy.  From personal observation, we have found that compression clothing not only helps with endurance, but improves recovery.

^* Proven research from adidas Global Research and the University of Calgary.

About 31 percent of the plastic bottles produced in the U.S. are made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (P.E.T.), and more than 45 billion of those containers were dumped in U.S. landfills in 2006. Recycling P.E.T. by re-melting it and extruding it as new fiber saves raw materials and reduces the number of plastic bottles going into landfills. The Diadora Terra Verde line, comprised of a Jersey/Short Kit and a polo shirt, is made with durable, eco-friendly RETHINK fabric. RETHINK is made of 100 percent recycled polyester derived from used soft drink and water bottles. In fact, the Terra Verde Jersey is made from 14 recycled water bottles.

“We are very proud to lead the way in the U.S. soccer community with the first eco-friendly soccer uniform,” said Bill Nuttall, President of Golden Viking Sports, LLC, the licensee of Diadora soccer footwear, apparel and accessories in the U.S. “In addition to the sleek Italian styling that the market has come to expect, our customers can now look to Diadora to provide innovative, performance-driven, environmentally conscious apparel.”

The Diadora Terra Verde Jersey is retail priced at $34.00, the short is $26.00 and the polo shirt is $48. The polo shirt is currently available and the Kit will be available in February 2010. Other garments will be added to the line for Spring 2011. At present, all apparel in the Terra Verde line is unisex, but gender-specific pieces will be added in the future. Sizing for the Kit ranges from Youth Small through Adult XL, and the polo shirt is available in Adult sizes Small through XL.  Distribution for Terra Verde apparel will target team dealers and soccer specialty stores.

Golden Viking Sports, LLC is the official U.S. licensee of Diadora footwear, apparel and accessories for soccer. Based in Kent, WA, the company is proud to continue the Diadora brand’s 26-year tradition of providing superior products and services to the American soccer market.

Source: Press Release

Over at our sister publication, the AVID Soccer Equipment Review (ASER), the first summer shoot-out has been published.  This year, they compared a complete player kit including the jersey, shorts, socks, track suit and bag.  Diadora came to the table with true Italian style and top flight quality.  Sarson was no slouch either.  They brought functional quality and solid value to the game.

The first category for comparison was functionality.  Sarson pulled ahead with a better breathing uniform and a backpack instead of a game bag.  However, the design details of the Diadora warm-ups were far superior to the Sarson bits.  This showed experience and attention to detail that only comes from playing in the gear.

The quality, fit and finish measures all went to Diadora.  At nearly twice the price, this isn't surprising.  Price was not part of the comparison, so the value of the Sarson kit was not factored into the ratings.

Finally, the packages were judged on style and desirability.  Again, Diadora won hands down.  The Sarson uniform earned points, but Diadora was the complete package.

For more details, visit the AVID Soccer Equipment Review and check out all of the gear.