Professional sports teams go through loads of uniforms. Besides suffering the wear and tear of intensive use, kits are regularly redesigned, featured sponsors come and go, players are transferred, excess items are ordered... Which all adds up to a substantial amount of waste. A few years ago, startup FC88 started tackling the issue by upcycling surplus and outdated team apparel into fan merchandise: everything from fanny packs and laptop sleeves to bucket hats and button-down shirts.
After working with various teams, primarily for one-off projects, FC88 is entering the big league. Last month, it announced a partnership with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), the governing body of soccer in the Netherlands, which will see FC88 upcycling overstock from the Dutch soccer federation for the coming years. Upcycled items will be sold as exclusive fan merchandise on game days and through KNVBshop.nl. The collaboration establishes FC88 as the world's first 'official upcycling licensee' for soccer.
