Football, fashion and sustainability: an ideal combination for conveying meaningful messages in ever-innovative ways, as has traditionally been the case for the’Udinese. Following the huge success of last year’s project, the Third Kit signed by the Bianconeri club Macron was produced in collaboration with Camera Moda Fashion Trust. A partnership based on the shared value of scouting for young talent, in both football and fashion, which makes the two brands international leaders in their respective fields.

This year, the Third Kit has been designed by a young fashion designer Flora Rabitti under its own brand Florania, one of the recipients of the CNMI Fashion Trust Grant 2023. An emerging, genderless brand based on circular and ethical production. And so, this year’s project is enriched by a key element – a value historically shared by Udinese and Macron, which underpins the agreement recently renewed until 2031 and is also at the heart of the Florania concept: the sustainability.

In fact, for the first time, Udinese’s kit will be the 100%, made from eco-friendly materials. In fact, for several seasons now, the Bianconeri have been wearing kits made from fabric Eco Fabric, made from 100%, a material derived from recycled post-consumer plastic; in this kit, recycled and recyclable materials have been used for the first time to produce all the hot-apply applications. The Macron logos on the shoulders and the sponsors’ logos on the front, back and sleeves are therefore all fully eco-friendly, as are the silicone patches on the chest: namely the Macron Hero, the Florania logo and the Udinese Calcio crest.

Concept, experimentation, innovation and sustainability blend seamlessly in the pursuit of a unique and distinctive design, making the third kit a piece that reaffirms the close relationship between football and the world of fashion. Once again this year, the Third Kit was unveiled at the Milan Fashion Week as part of a panel discussion on football, sustainability and fashion, moderated by the journalist Paola Bottelli, and attended by Magda Pozzo, Umberta Gnutti Beretta e Warly Tomei (Co-founders and Co-Chairs of the CNMI Fashion Trust), Flora Rabitti e Gianluca Pavanello (CEO Macron).

The Udinese Calcio’s new 2024/25 third kit It has a mandarin collar in knitwear with black-and-white trim, a colour combination also featured on the sleeve cuffs. The jumper is in a distinctive shade of light wisteria and features a sublimation-printed pattern that replicates the irregular design of white flames which wrap around it at both the front and back, extending in particular across the sides and sleeves. The reference is to the sunbeams, a symbol of particular significance for the city of Udine, which in this case also serves to reinforce the message of sustainability conveyed by this kit. Solar energy is at the heart of the modernisation works carried out on the Bluenergy Stadium, the stadium where Udinese play their home matches. Over 2,400 state-of-the-art solar panels will enable the stadium to be partially self-sufficient in energy, making it one of the most advanced stadiums in Europe in terms of clean energy production.

On the chest, on the right and one below the other, the Macron the Hero and the F the Florania brand logo. On the left, meanwhile, is the coat of arms of the’Udinese Football Club. The words are printed in black on the outer nape of the neck: WE PLAY FOR THE PLANET, a clear message confirming the Friuli-based company’s strong commitment in the fields of sustainability and of the respect for the environment. A ‘green’ philosophy widely shared by Macron, which has for years been producing technical garments for its partner clubs using 100% eco-sustainable fabrics, and ‘amplified’ in this instance by the collaboration with Florania. The brand is, in fact, recognised for its commitment to sustainability and its belief in ready-to-wear and upcycling.

The kit is completed by wisteria-coloured shorts that feature the same design as the shirt. The socks, also wisteria-coloured, have a black-and-white horizontal stripe along the top edge

“The design of the 24/25 third kit perfectly reflects our values: innovation and sustainability – emphasises Magda Pozzo – For the second year running, we have been working with Camera Moda Fashion Trust and, given our shared commitment to young talent, we are delighted to be able to help showcase a great talent in fashion design such as Flora Rabitti. This jersey also reinforces our commitment to sustainability, which binds us deeply to Macron and which characterises the Florania brand: it is no coincidence, in fact, that the flames on the shirt evoke the energy of the sun – a spot-on choice by Flora that also alludes to the major solar park project currently under construction at the Bluenergy Stadium. All this forms part of a commitment to sustainability in which we believe more and more, and which we also wish to promote through the union of football and fashion”.

“Football and fashion have long been a natural pairing, and when you combine this with innovation and sustainability, the result is exceptional. – he says Gianluca Pavanello – We have been carrying out technical and stylistic research for some time now in order to create High-performance garments with a unique and exclusive fashion design. Collaborating with Flora Rabitti on the design of this kit and enhancing it with graphics that hold great significance for this club and this city has been very inspiring for us. Similarly, this project also represents a significant step forward in making our 100% garments sustainable, as we have supplemented our Eco Fabric materials with the use of transfer and silicone appliqués made from Eco material.”.

“It was an honour to represent the shared values of Florania, Udinese Calcio, Macron and the National Chamber of Italian Fashion in a collaborative project imbued with powerful symbolism: inspired by the Sun of Udine in Piazza della Libertà – he says Flora Rabitti – The design of the team’s third kit features universal symbols of warmth and strength: sunbeams. Collective and sustainable energy, eco-friendly innovation and a sense of community”.

“I would like to thank Udinese Calcio and Magda Pozzo for renewing this partnership and for giving an emerging designer like Flora Rabitti the opportunity to design the third kit, welcoming her to Udine and supporting her through every stage of the project’s development – declares Carlo Capasa, Chair of CNMI – Fashion and football are undoubtedly two of our country’s finest achievements, and having the chance to see them work together and join forces is a source of immense satisfaction”.

The new 2024/25 Third Kit, like all items in the Udinese Calcio range, is available to buy at the Macron Sports Hub at the Bluenergy Stadium, or online in the section dedicated to the Bianconeri club on macron.com.