nendo launches ‘one for one’ edition of airless soccer ball that you can assemble yourself

one for one edition of ‘my football kit’ by nendo

Soccer, or football, fans, hear this out: Nendo has released a new version of its My Football Kit, a non-inflatable soccer ball that players can piece together themselves. The soccer ball was first introduced in 2021 for impoverished communities of the world, and recently, Nendo brought it back for its ‘One for One’ limited edition. For every purchased non-inflatable soccer ball, the Japanese design studio donates another to someone else.

They work with Molten Corporation, the manufacturer of the ball and the one donating the kit to facilities such as children’s homes or special support schools, so young people can assemble a soccer ball for themselves. Nendo says that the color scheme for My Football Kit is only in white and black with the studio’s logo. For the donated balls, the Nendo logo is not printed at all, and it is up to Molten Corporation if they want to change the colors.

images courtesy of Nendo | photos by Akihiro Yoshida

‘My football kit’ inspired by japanese bamboo ball

Nendo, who also introduced a beer glass that has three sides, says that its My Football Kit is inspired by the traditional Japanese bamboo ball. The assemble-it-yourself soccer ball has a total of 54 parts that, once formed, resemble the weaving technique used for its bamboo counterpart. The airless version uses the force of the material’s surface to make it bounce and roll instead of relying on internal air pressure.

These components are made of soft recycled polypropylene and elastomer synthetic resins, so the players’ toes are kept safe even when they kick the ball barefoot. Nendo creates interlocking parts for the non-inflatable soccer ball so that the entire ball doesn’t fall apart or break, even if only a single part comes off during play.

the non-inflatable soccer ball has a total of 54 parts

Replaceable parts for easy maintenance

Nendo’s non-inflatable soccer ball can be maintained easily since only the broken parts are replaced and not the entire object. This can help the players save repair fees and give the ball a longer time of use. The 54 parts are divided into three types: 12 stabilizers, 12 panels, and 30 plates. When the players assemble My Football Kit, they create layer after layer, which contributes to making the ball bounce and roll well. Going for recycled materials is what Nendo wants to establish with its soccer ball, given the packaging bag that is made of non-woven cloth as well as the manual printed on repurposed paper. As of publishing the story, Nendo’s My Football Kit is priced at around 84 USD (excluding shipping rates, which differ depending on the location) and has already sold out.

Nendo’s soccer ball uses the force of the material’s surface to make it bounce and roll