In a bid to do its part to protect the health of the world’s ocean, America’s Cup challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli has swapped its team uniform from one made from synthetic fibres to a more technical, eco-friendly kit made from Merino wool.
The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli sailing team was able to make the switch to natural fibres by onboarding The Woolmark Company as the team’s official technical partner, creating a uniform of both on-shore and off-shore apparel made from Merino wool – a 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre.
“The integration of natural and biodegradable fibres such as Merino wool, as opposed to synthetic materials in the fabrics of our uniform, is first and foremost a respectful choice towards the environment,” says skipper Max Sirena.
“Every year tons of microplastics are poured into the sea, putting ecosystems and the entire planet at risk. The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team is committed to reducing the impact of its activities on the environment and at sea by seeking a “reverse course" through its daily actions.”
Watch: Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Challengers for Now
How Merino wool and Luna Rossa protect the ocean
“People have been wearing wool for hundreds, if not thousands of years,” says skipper Max Sirena. “Wool is a material with extraordinary elasticity and resistance. Thanks to its versatility, it perfectly matches the needs of a team such as ours, where we are used to working in all weather conditions.”
As the world’s oldest fibre, wool is 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable and is the most reused, recycled apparel fibre on the planet. Unlike synthetic fibres, Merino wool does not contribute to microplastic pollution, with wool fibres 100% biodegradable in both land and marine environments and therefore offers the team a natural uniform with reduced environmental impact.
“Furthermore, the choice of choosing a fibre like wool, that is both natural and biodegradable, is also closely tied to our goal of minimising ocean pollution, an issue to which our team is very sensitive.”
The Woolmark-certified uniforms, which the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team and crew will wear during regattas, events and official activities, include a waterproof jacket, a soft-shell jacket, a polo shirt, a wet jacket, a blouson, a T-shirt and a wetsuit and base-layers, all made from Merino wool.
The official sailing team jacket is now available to buy in selected Prada stores across the world, as well as online. The three-layer jacket is made with 54% Merino wool bonded with a waterproof membrane. A unique, high-performance fabric, it is immensely dense but lightweight for extreme water resistance and full breathability.
History of the America’s Cup
Meet the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team
The Luna Rossa team is the most respected team in the America’s Cup fraternity. It is the only team in the history of America’s Cup to have challenged six times. An extremely competitive and well renowned team, Luna Rossa was the winner of the Challengers’ Selection Series in 2000, was a finalist three times out of four challenges and includes some of the world’s highest talented sailors and designers.
THE LUNA ROSSA PRADA CREW
