Strips for new season incorporate a tohu, or symbol, gifted to the club and created by a New Zealand designer
Football kits have the power to evoke the very essence of a club, which is why Wellington Phoenix feel the launch of their strips for the coming season is so significant.
Designed by Paladin Sports, the two strips – one yellow, one black – both feature the tohu, or emblem, that was created last year by designer Charmaine Love and gifted to the club on behalf of the local iwi, or tribe.
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Both kits also feature Te Raukura, the plume of white feathers, which represents spiritual, physical, and communal harmony and unity.
The tohu is emblazoned in black on the front, across the shoulders and down the sides of the yellow shirt, and includes elements such as the koru (the unfurling new leaf of the ponga fern), symbolising new life, growth, strength and peace, as well as ngaru (waves) and mangōpare (hammerhead shark).
Paladin Sports has worked closely with Love and the Wellington Phoenix to design a kit which represents Te Whanganui-a-Tara (or Wellington Harbour), local iwi, the fans and the club.
“We are thrilled with the Phoenix kits for this season, which have come about from an in-depth consultative process, including input from fans,” Ed Harman, CEO of Paladin Sports New Zealand, said.
“This season we wanted to bring the dominant colours back from the club’s origins and to develop the black kit further to honour our country and all the positivity around New Zealand co-hosting the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup.”
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“We ask a lot of Ed and his team at Paladin and they always come up with the answers,” said Phoenix general manager David Dome.
“It’s also fantastic to see the tohu again feature so strongly throughout our playing strips. “We’re very fortunate to have been gifted this taonga (or treasured possession) by Te Āti Awa and to be its kaitiaki (or guardian).”
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