Over a century ago a small store specialising in imported baseball and golf equipment opened in Osaka, Japan. Frustrated with the quality of the imported goods, the store owner Rihachi Mizuno successfully sought out local factories that could manufacture to a higher standard – these domestic goods were labelled with the family name, giving birth to the Mizuno brand.
10th February 2018, University Area, University of Worcester – the 2018 Vitality Netball Super League season started with an all-Mizuno clash between Manchester Thunder and Severn Stars. For Mizuno this was a proud moment with both teams fully kitted out in Mizuno apparel and the majority of players also choosing to play in Mizuno netball shoes. Both teams, alongside benecosMavericks, have partnered with Mizuno to create their bespoke netball dresses as well as off-court and training apparel and as official footwear supplier for the 2018 season.
Each set of kit has been designed and produced to the highest of standards, with the most intricate attention applied to a team’s match day dress and training apparel. How does a player want to feel as they walk onto the court ahead of 60 intense, competitive minutes? They want to feel proud. And they want total confidence that their kit will hold up to the challenge ahead. At Mizuno, we believe that uniform is critical – look good, feel good.
Nowhere is the ‘look good, feel good’ philosophy better demonstrated than on the courts of UK schools. For most, it’s the earliest opportunity to pull on a uniform or playing kit and truly represent their team. Being selected for the school team is a big deal – the rivalry against other schools develops quickly but a netball team’s sense of purpose and unity is strengthened by the design of their uniform and dresses and the badge upon their chest. Selecting the look and feel of the playing uniform is a critical process but Mizuno’s product and design experts make it easy – they have a wealth of experience in guiding teams through the step-by-step measures to ensure that a school doesn’t just have a uniform, it has an identity that instils pride and belief.
As well as a fully bespoke apparel range, Mizuno also provides players with a broad range of technical footwear. Historically, netball has often been played in running shoes and other generic sports ‘trainers’. These shoes lack support, control and adequate grip – making it harder to change direction and remain stable. These qualities are imperative, as the shoes need to be able to grip the court, whatever the surface. Mizuno netball shoes provide impressive grip and great stability allowing for more controlled and quicker movement – ultimately giving you an advantage over your opponents. As well as this, Mizuno netball shoes provide a more stable knee and ankle position which reduces the risk of injury in these areas.
At Mizuno we understand that different styles of play require different footwear. Whether you’re a strong, powerful defender seeking stability or an agile centre court player that needs explosive performance, there’s a Mizuno shoe for you.
To learn more about Mizuno’s range of footwear click here. To design your school netball kit or get some help from our design experts visit: mizunokitdesigner.com
