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Fielding Netball Club

Custom Netball Uniform Design & Partnership Case Study

Picture of Lizzie McPhail

Lizzie McPhail

Director at Kooga NZ Ltd

 

Club Overview

Fielding Netball Club is the oldest netball club in the Manawatū region, with more than 50 years of history in grassroots netball. Based in Feilding, the club is a cornerstone of local sport, operating from its own courts on South Street which support both junior and senior competition pathways.

 

The club caters to a wide range of players, from development and social grades through to competitive premier-level teams. It has built a strong reputation for developing players and contributing athletes into representative pathways.

 

As a volunteer-led organisation, Fielding Netball Club is driven by a committed committee and wider community network. Every decision around investment in club apparel is made carefully, with a strong focus on value, durability, and ensuring funds raised through the community are spent wisely and transparently to benefit players directly.

The Brief – More Than Just Uniforms

Fielding Netball Club approached us with a clear but considered brief. This was not simply about new uniforms—it was about building confidence in a long-term apparel partnership that could support both performance and club growth.

 

Their key priorities were:

  • Create a consistent, modern, and distinctive club identity across all apparel
  • Develop a new look that would set them apart from other netball teams
  • Ensure excellent fit across a wide range of player shapes and sizes
  • Deliver high-quality, durable garments to protect the club’s investment of limited fundraising funds
  • Build a supplier relationship based on communication, responsiveness, and trust
  • Work with a partner who understood the importance of service, follow-through, and being available when needed

 

At the heart of the brief was a clear expectation: the club needed confidence that their investment would be well managed, well delivered, and long-lasting.

Our Approach – Partnership First

From the outset, this project was treated as a genuine partnership, not a transactional uniform supply.

 

We worked closely with the club’s volunteer committee through every stage, ensuring clear communication, fast feedback loops, and full visibility of progress. This was particularly important given the club’s fundraising efforts and the need to ensure every decision added value.

 

Key elements of our approach included:

  • Direct collaboration with the committee throughout design and development
  • Ongoing communication and responsiveness during fit and sample stages
  • Pre-production sampling to give the club full confidence before final approval
  • Full refinement of club branding and logo vectorisation for professional application
  • Continuous alignment with the club’s goals around value, durability, and presentation

 

This process ensured the club always felt heard, supported, and involved in every decision.

Design & Development

The playing dress was developed through multiple refinements to balance performance, fit, and identity.

 

Key design features included:

  • A fully customised netball dress designed specifically for Fielding Netball Club
  • Scalloped front and back hem detailing for a modern, dynamic finish
  • Integrated side splits for improved movement and contemporary styling
  • An A-line inspired silhouette with a more fitted upper body and relaxed lower section to improve comfort and reduce the need for constant adjustment during play
  • Heavier-weight performance fabric selected to improve drape, structure, and long-term durability
  • Optimised placement of club colours and branding to strengthen identity on court

 

The result is a flattering, high-performance uniform that supports players of all shapes and sizes to play freely and confidently.

Warm-Up & Training Layer

To extend the range, a coordinated long sleeve warm-up top was also developed.

 

This garment was designed to:

  • Provide warmth during winter training and pre-game preparation
  • Be worn comfortably over the playing dress while maintaining a consistent club identity
  • Align visually with the main dress design for a unified apparel range
  • Include a set-in sleeve construction to ensure full freedom of movement through the shoulders and arms

 

This created a complete, cohesive apparel system across both playing and training environments.

Outcome – Confidence in Investment, Pride in Identity

The final outcome is a modern, unified netball apparel range that delivers far more than a new look for Fielding Netball Club.

 

Importantly, the club now has:

  • Confidence that their fundraising investment has been used wisely and effectively
  • A consistent, professional identity across all teams
  • A strong, modern design that differentiates them from other clubs
  • Improved fit across all player sizes, supporting comfort and confidence on court
  • A durable, high-quality apparel solution designed for long-term use
  • A coordinated playing and warm-up range that strengthens overall club branding

Just as importantly, the club has a supplier relationship built on communication, responsiveness, and trust. The committee has a partner who understands the realities of volunteer-run sport—where time is limited, budgets are carefully managed, and delivery must be reliable.

 

This project reflects a genuine long-term partnership approach, supporting Fielding Netball Club’s broader goals of growing participation, strengthening membership, and continuing to build a sustainable and proud netball programme.