The Portuguese word Garra means "firm will or spirit - indomitable courage in the face of difficulty or danger". However, it also means "the sharp claws of some animals," such as the jaguar, one of the country's symbols. On the pitch, Garra is all about dribbling, cycling, improvising, fighting and moving forward. Above all, the Pumas also represent the Brazilian style of play: fierce and artistic.
Inspired by the country's grit, spirit and resilience, Nike has teamed up with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to launch a new clothing line under the theme "Garra Brasileira", with Brazil's stars going all out for a sixth star in Qatar at the end of the year.
"For Nike, valuing football means respecting the athletes, young people and communities who paint a clear picture of the sport," "Brazil's new collection celebrates the courage and creativity of a team that never gives up, a team that embodies the essence of Nike's own culture of innovation," said Aaron Barnett, Nike's senior product director for global soccer apparel.
To create a new image for the Brazilian national team, the Nike design team stayed true to the team's history while combining tradition with creativity, technology and sustainability. The result is a unique design that finds a balance between embodiment of national pride, youth culture and innovation in athletic performance.
To showcase "Brazilian claws," Nike launched a campaign called "Veste a Garra," featuring sports legends, ICONS of Brazilian culture and a new generation of athletes who embody national pride. They included Alisson Becker, the goalkeeper for the national team, and players Richarlison, Rodrygo and Philippe Cortinio Coutinho, Marquinhos, Matheus Cunha and Adriana, the sprinter Paulo Andres Andre, the former soccer legend Ronaldo, the rapper Djonga, the funk singer MC Hariel, the anchor Gaulese Babi, the judoka Rafaela Silva, And Raphael Martins, the leader of Meninos Bons de Bola, the world's first futsal football team made up of transgender men and women.
The new clothing line was developed by combining Nike's sports science -- including rigorous data collection and analysis -- with a full range of computer design to create a lightweight, cutting-edge clothing. The New Jersey features DRI-Fit ADV technology, Nike's most advanced apparel technology.
An athlete's sweat and body heat map are key to designing and planning a DRI-Fit ADV on the jersey. Using an athlete's heat map and development technology, designers were able to design the fabrics pixel by pixel to provide more precise breathable properties, lowering temperatures at the exact locations on the athlete's body where they are most needed.
Nike has been inspired by the Jaguar to create an exclusive computer-generated image for the Brazilian national team. On the classic yellow shirt, this iconic leopard print is more than just a visual statement. It also reinforces the jersey's breathability, which, combined with a seamless, adaptable cut, is more conducive to sweating and keeping athletes focused on the game.
A vibrant reinterpretation of the color for the "Amarelinha" was created by introducing dynamic yellow (Amarelo Dinamico), which was brought to life by leopard spots (roselle) throughout the body. For the first time, the shirt featured Azul Paramount on the collar and cuffs, creating a combination of yellow, green and blue that referenced the Brazilian flag's three colors. The home shorts are blue with yellow numbers, and the white socks have green and blue details to complete the look.
As well as the home jersey's bright colors and patterns, the away jersey also features the colors of the Brazilian flag and the leopard print of the Pumas. On away jerseys, leopard prints appear in a modern twist on the sleeves of Azul Supremo shirts. White shorts with green numbers and blue socks with green and yellow details complete the look.
On the front of both shirts, the specially decorated emblem of the Brazilian Football Federation (national team) appears below the five stars symbolizing the five world champions. There is a "Garra Brasileira" themed icon inside the collar, which both echoes the Jaguar's claws and honors the Brazilian's unyielding will. The open collar of the yellow jersey also incorporates details of the Brazilian flag.
"To wear the yellow jersey is the greatest honour that me and my Brazilian team-mates could have imagined. We need to do everything we can to win for our country, "Brazil forward Richard Leeson said." On behalf of Brazil and Nike, we have a chance to fight for something bigger -- to contribute to the future of the sport."
In addition to delivering the best in design, athletic performance and innovation, the jersey is also manufactured using 100% recycled polyester made from recycled plastic bottles, reducing waste and environmental impact without compromising the performance of the garment. Recycled polyester can reduce carbon emissions by up to 30% compared to native polyester and help recycle an average of 1 billion waste plastic bottles from landfills and oceans each year.
The Nike Soccer team has taken their 2022 jersey development one step further: they're using digital modeling to reduce waste. Thanks to the most modern and advanced product development equipment, the number of samples was reduced by about 75% compared to the 2018 process.
This design, with sustainability in mind from the outset, has also expanded to include practice wear, pre-game jerseys, field coats and fan wear. For the first time, more than 75% of the entire Nike football apparel line is made from 100% recycled polyester. The growing emphasis on sustainable production practices across the entire range has brought unprecedented scale and breadth to Nike's eco-design of the entire football range.
Nike's commitment to helping protect the future of the planet -- and, naturally, the sport -- goes beyond the product itself: it has also guided the brand to other initiatives to make a bigger impact. In Brazil, Nike has formed a partnership with Oncafari, an organization founded 11 years ago to protect Brazil's biodiversity, with a focus on leopard research, monitoring and conservation. The commitment will enable action to protect jaguars by studying and monitoring the species in four different biomes, particularly in the Amazonas, over the next three years.
Nike has also formed a partnership with SOS Amazonia and Instituto Esporte e Educacao to build on initiatives in the Amazon region to strengthen the sustainability agenda and promote community development through sport.
"The Brazilian team and the yellow jersey are the representatives of our country and our people. This year, the jersey is even more special by featuring one of our animal symbols, the jaguar. This collection is a reminder that we can take action to create a better world and help protect the planet and the future of the sport, "said Gustavo Viana, marketing director of FISIA, Nike's official distributor in Brazil.
Partnering with athletes, clubs and sports associations like the Brazilian Football Federation to expand sustainabilities-focused innovation and investment in communities is all part of Nike's ongoing efforts to help the sport grow, now and in the future.
