Manchester-based Fanatics and Kick It Out have teamed up with Everton, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County Football Club to launch a first-ever range of club-branded Kick It Out merchandise.
The merch supports the charity’s goal of tackling discrimination and promoting equality and inclusion in all sports.
Through the partnership, Fanatics has designed, manufactured and will sell a range of high-quality club-branded fanwear, emblazoned with club, Kick It Out and Fanatics branding, designed to empower fans to show their support for Kick It Out and its mission.
The range, which includes both men’s and women’s T-shirts and hoodies in a variety of sizes, colours and styles, is now available for fans to purchase through the Everton, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County official retail outlets, as well as their official online stores.
This collaboration is the latest step in Fanatics’ ongoing work with Kick It Out as the organisation’s official merchandise partner, which began last August with the launch of a branded range of Kick It Out merchandise. Fanatics also supports Kick It Out’s Raise Your Game programme, which provides mentoring and leadership opportunities for people from underrepresented groups who want to work in sport.
As part of its work with Raise Your Game, Fanatics, a leader in licensed sports merchandise and a global digital sports platform which partners with more than 900 of the biggest clubs, leagues and organisations in sport, offers work experience to people from underrepresented backgrounds looking to break into the sports industry, with a number of placements planned for this year.
Speaking on the launch of the new range, Hollie Varney, COO at Kick It Out, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer football fans a means to showcase their pride in their team while doing their part to call out and end discrimination in sport. Being able to partner with forward-thinking clubs such as Everton, Derby County, Aston Villa and Wolves, and the support of their passionate fanbases, is key to raising awareness and support for our mission.”
Michael Taylor, head of marketing for Fanatics’ International Branded Division, added: “Equality, diversity and inclusion is a key tenet of our culture at Fanatics and lies at the heart of our values and everything we do. We are thrilled to bring our global reach and expertise to bear in developing this exciting new range of merchandise for Kick It Out, and football fans across the globe.”
