Daito Rugby Range
It goes without saying that as a rugby fanatic sportswear designer, one of my proudest career moments was watching the Tonga rugby team walking onto the Sapporo Dome pitch in their Mizuno Daito Rugby kit to play England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
18 months prior to the match in the Sapporo Dome we teamed up with the Tonga Team, fabric suppliers and Mizuno Tech Lab to create an unashamedly technicals Rugby range that celebrates Mizuno’s Japanese heritage and Tongan culture. The Daito rugby range went through a detailed design processes, a magnitude of sampling and months of product testing to ensure the player could perform at the highest level with no distractions.
The panel configuration and design is inspired from the Samurai armour, to reflect the synergy of rugby players going into battle when on the pitch and the jersey forms their armour. A polynesian tattoo pattern is emblazoned down the side panels to reflect Tongans distinguished culture and a symbol of the people who the players are representing throughout the tournament.
The Jersey is constructed with a light weight poly-elastane fabric with a woven hexagon jacquard to improve strength and breathability in the humid Japanese climate. A silicone heat print is applied to the front panel and shorts to improve ball control to counteract the moisture created by the atmosphere.
The above video, beautifully crafted by @edbarnesfilmmaker, cleverly reenforces the Samurai armour concepts in the Daito rugby kit. A key point to note is that through out the project, a conscious effort was made to harmonise the kits designs with Mizuno footwear to reflect a clear brand strategy.
