England Netball and Nike have come together to ignite excitement for the upcoming Netball World Cup with an update to the iconic red dress for the Vitality Roses, as well as the launch of a new fanwear range.
The Vitality Roses will head to South Africa for the Vitality Netball World Cup with their new-look home and away kits after updated designs were unveiled by England Netball and their Official Partner and Kit provider Nike.
The Vitality Roses, who won a bronze medal at the last World Cup in 2019, will showcase the latest version of the iconic Nike dress for the first time during their opening match of the Netball World Cup on Friday 28 July.
The new dress, which was developed in collaboration between members of the Vitality Roses, the wider England Netball performance team and Nike’s design experts, has resulted in a design which seamlessly blends style, functionality, and performance. The dresses are dyed for an ultra-rich colour performance giving a beautiful bold red, and the England Netball Roses logo is finished in an exclusive gold metallic flake treatment.
Vitality Rose Natalie Metcalf said: “I’m bursting with excitement and pride to have the honour of wearing the newly designed Nike dress at the upcoming World Cup. This dress represents so much more than just a uniform; it’s a symbol of our team’s journey and a reminder of the unwavering support from our fans.
“Putting on this dress will be such a moment. It’s like stepping into our armour to help us face the challenges that will come our way. We are all now eagerly counting down the days until the World Cup where we will step onto the court united as a team, wearing this beautiful new Nike dress that will empower us all to give our very best during every single game.”
Identity. Pride. Passion. Performance.
A Vitality Roses x Nike classic reimagined ✔ pic.twitter.com/ybt6WjpH9B
— England Netball (@EnglandNetball) June 26, 2023
The dress incorporates a super lightweight fabric that allows for ultimate performance, even in sweaty conditions. With this, a key innovation that has been made is the bib that sits on the centre of the dress. The incorporation of laser-cut perforations enhances breathability, while the ergonomic design without square corners will provide a more streamlined and comfortable bib for players. The dress boasts a sleek and close-fitting design which is further enhanced by updated velcro fastenings. These improvements not only prioritise player comfort but also minimise distractions and reduce the risk of detachment during close-contact play on the court.
“Putting on this dress will be such a moment. It’s like stepping into our armour to help us face the challenges that will come our way.” Nat Metcalf
Along with the unveiling of the new dress, fans will be able to purchase an exciting new fanwear collection. Head to the England Netball Store to check out the new range as well as the replica kit.
Fran Connolly, Chief Executive of England Netball added: “We’re thrilled to partner with Nike to unveil this exceptional dress that perfectly embodies the identity of the Vitality Roses. Our collaboration has allowed us to combine both performance-driven features with a visually stunning design that truly reflects our ambition and determination to succeed on the world stage.
“I know our Roses will feel very proud when they get to wear this new dress for the very first time. This new kit represents their collective journey and the countless stories that have brought them to this point with only a few weeks to go now until the event gets underway. The countdown is very much on, and we cannot wait for the entire Netball Family to get behind our wonderful team.”
Members of the netball community were invited to take part in a special photoshoot with some of the Vitality Roses to celebrate the launch of the new kit and fanwear collection and share some of their experiences with the team.
Following the launch of NETBALLHer – England Netball’s education programme aimed at supporting women and girls of all ages with female health – Nike have pledged to support the Roses and members of the netball community with sports bra fittings to highlight the importance of breast support and breast health. This will take place in early July in preparation camp before the squad head out to South Africa.
