Sportwool
Choice of material is also significant. Manchester United's current shirts are made from a newly invented textile called Sportwool, consisting of polyester and Marino wool. This was chosen in response to the two main concerns of players: that the shirt feels lightweight and does not absorb moisture.
From ten initialprototypes, Darran's team selects two or three to be made up by Umbro's garment technologists. Once the players have tried out the options - wearing the material in training is a major test - a final choice can be made. Darran's team works on 30-40 designs per year, resulting in the manufacture of around two million strips every season, mostly in the Far East.
Darran's favourite shirts? Not surprisingly he opts for one of Manchester City's, from the early 1970s (a sky-blue shirt with a white crew neck and cuffs). Despite his allegiance, he also loved the controversial all-black away kit designed for Manchester United in 1992 (which forced referees to don green shirts). Another favourite is the new Umbro England shirt, which introduces a red stripe down the left, backing the familiar three lions crest. |
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