Produced with a special Dope Dye manufacturing process to reduce water consumption, the new kit pays tribute to the Club’s global charity initiative, Cityzens Giving, which uses football to raise awareness of and access to safe water across the world.
The striking new shirt features water droplets throughout the design, whilst the Club crest, PUMA cat, Etihad and Nexen sponsor logos feature iridescent colours, resembling the effect of light breaking through water droplets.
One in three people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water.
To help address this challenge, Cityzens Giving and Xylem, the Club’s Official Water Technology Partner, have collaborated with PUMA to deliver an innovative global programme, blending football-based education on water, sanitation and hygiene, and clean water access for communities in need.
The ambition is to reach over 10,000 young people in three continents, focusing on Manchester, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Mumbai.
The programme has just kicked off with the creation of a clean water tower in Mumbai, producing a safe and long-term supply of fresh drinking water for 1,800 people per day.
Tom Pitchon, Director of City Football Foundation said: “We are proud to be able to use the Club’s away kit to raise awareness of water issues around the world, creating a platform to provide much needed support for communities in need.
“Empowering our global network of Young Leaders to use football as a platform to tackle social issues in their communities is at the heart of what Cityzens Giving does and the work we are embarking on with our partners PUMA and Xylem will help to enhance the lives of thousands of people around the world.
“Our playing kit is an expression of what our Club stands for and we are delighted that this season’s kit will be used to highlight the vital issue of clean water access.”
In addition to increasing access to clean water in communities, PUMA is reducing the amount of water waste and consumption during the manufacturing of the kit.
The company has utilised an innovative Dope Dye manufacturing process to drastically reduce the amount of water and dye used during production.
“The Manchester City away kit is a special project at PUMA, we are working with Manchester City and their partners to support communities and continue to increase our level of sustainability,” said Heiko Desens, PUMA’s Global Creative Director and Innovation.
“Along with supporting safe water programs, we have utilised an innovative Dope Dye manufacturing process to significantly reduce the level of water consumption when compared to traditional ways of dying materials.
“The Dope Dye process allows us to colour the raw materials before it is spun or knitted to a textile allowing us to skip the water-intensive dying process of colouring the yarn or knitted material.
“An added benefit to this method is it improves colour fastness by reducing the fading of the colours after washing or light exposure, which is important for performance products.”
Patrick Decker, CEO of Xylem, added: “We’re thrilled that water awareness is the centrepiece of this ‘away kit’.
“PUMA and Manchester City are giving fans everywhere the chance to shine a light on one of the world’s most urgent needs to solve water challenges like drought, flooding, pollution, and affordability.
“Technology is available, today, to respond to these problems. And now, with the help of this great kit, fans can raise awareness, and even call for action from businesses and governments around the world.”
The new Manchester City away kit is on sale now at the Etihad Stadium Store and online at mancity.com/shop.
