Closer Look: Storelli BodyShield : Football Apparel : Soccer Bible

On a mission to revolutionise the performance equipment market with radical and creative solutions to football protection, we dive deeper into the design of the Storelli BodyShield collection with Head of Design, Tom Marchesi.

Lightweight and innovative, Storelli keep your foot firmly on the accelerator while offering a seat belt that keeps you on the road for even more miles. It's the brand's BodyShield collection that's designed to take those hard hits, whether that be nasty tackles to the lower legs, turf burn injuries from sliding or heavy impact blows to the torso or head.



Using a superior Poron material tested to the highest degree of efficiency, the BodyShield collection uses a high performance polyurethane foam to eliminate impact and abrasion on all key areas of the body from leg sleeves, pants and shorts to head gear, vests and GK clothing. Created to be breathable, with moisture wicking compression fabric to keep the body cool, the foam is developed to morph to the body to provide a compression feel that doesn't restrict movement or performance.



Speaking on the 'BodyShield Sleeveless Shirt', Head of Design at Storelli, Tom Marchesi, explains; "The design started with the need to protect the ribs in the lightest, most flexible garment possible. The design wasn't limited to the shape of the pads or even the way the shirt is constructed though. It goes deep; the foam was formulated for that exact purpose. The materials were not simply stock fabric, but tuned to our specific needs, to be lightweight, the perfect amount of stretch and antimicrobial."



The leg sleeve - a regular feature in many player's kit bags - has been given the 'BodyShield' upgrade. "We wanted to protect the lower leg without adding weight and complication", Marchesi explains. "The sleeve sounds like what it is, but what seems like a simple sleeve is anything but simple. The padding on the outer leg is shaped to protect the leg in a slide tackle without adding bulk. The ultra thin lycra is laser cut, eliminating a sewn seam around the ankle, making the sleeve seemingly disappear after the team sock is pulled over top. The seams are positioned for maximum stretch and minimal weight and bulk."



Visually, the BodyShield collection packs a stealth vibe, and that’s very much down to the design philosophy of the brand, underpinned by the premise that players don’t want to feel like they’re wearing protection. "Players are attracted to the bold, stealth design of the products; it's more protection in disguise. As a result, from a design point of view, most of our gear is very stealth looking, almost hidden away, which is the case for our BodyShield products."

View the full Storelli collection here.