From the 2023/24 season, Japanese company Mizuno will take over in producing the kits and training clothing for FC Augsburg’s men’s, women’s, and junior teams. The deal between the two parties has been signed for the next five years.
FC Augsburg will part ways with their current kit manufacturer, Nike, at the conclusion of the 2022/23 German Bundesliga season. For the last 8 years, Nike exclusively created and designed the kits of FC Augsburg.
Mizuno was created in 1904 by two brothers – Rihachi and Rizo Mizuno. The company produce a wide range of sportswear goods for a variety of different sports. Mizuno pride themselves on being able to produce the most beneficial and superior products compared to other sportswear manufacturing companies across the world.
Mizuno are a unique company as they aim to be carbon neutral by 2050. This plan has meant that Mizuno produce their products in the most sustainable way possible, with a big emphasis on environmental protection and nature conservation.
As well as producing football kits that are sustainable to the environment, Mizuno are known to create very attractive kits. Mizuno are also the kit manufacturer of Lazio in the Italian Serie A and fellow Bundesliga club, VfL Bochum. Mizuno’s kit for VfL Bochum was voted the most beautiful jersey this season in the Bundesliga.
Mizuno adding FC Augsburg to their list of European football clubs, which they partner with, will only prove beneficial to the company. Creating environmentally-friendly football kits will attract further partnership opportunities for Mizuno, as football clubs are now more conscious of becoming carbon friendly. With the added fact that Mizuno are known to produce beautifully designed kits, expect Mizuno to partner with some of the biggest football clubs in Europe in the near future.
In a media statement, Mizuno Head of Global Marketing, Mark Kaiway, said:
‘’We are all excited about the partnership and we look forward to offering high quality, functional and stylish products from the Mizuno brand.’’
The deal between FC Augsburg and Mizuno is also exciting for fans of FC Augsburg, as Mizuno is open to collaborating with fans in the creation of the Club’s playing kit and training gear. This is another reason why FC Augsburg were committed to signing with Mizuno. FC Augsburg Managing Director, Michael Stroll added via press release:
‘’For us, when selecting the new outfitter, the focus was not only on quality, but also on the design options for individual jerseys.’’
This will give fans a unique opportunity to add potential design ideas to their Club’s kits. The relationship Mizuno are willing to have with the fans is novel and uncommon among other football kit manufacturers.
This deal between FC Augsburg and Mizuno is a coming together of two companies with a shared vision, as Stroll added in a statement:
‘’With its high quality and product standard in individual designs and the focused commitment to sustainability, Mizuno fits perfectly with our orientation’’.
This partnership is an exciting deal for all parties involved, and they look forward to seeing the newly designed kits for next season.
