Uniting Armed Forces with Industry Specialists - Harmonising the Spirit of Triumph over Trauma at the Invictus Games 2023

Brigantes has been selected as the leading kit sponsor for Team UK at this year’s Invictus Germany , in partnership with apparel and equipment specialists at OMM , Pentland Brands Endura , Speedo and SWiRL Global LTD .

The Invictus Games is perhaps one of the clearest embodiments of the fighting spirit shared by all Armed Forces personnel. Held roughly once a year, these events are not merely an athletic spectacle but a critical landmark that sheds light on some of the major injuries and subsequent personal challenges suffered by men and women in the line of duty. Bound by life-changing trauma, be this physical or mental, the Invictus Games provide a means through which service personnel can harness their skills and determination to meet their challenges head-on, rediscovering resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

A pervading theme of the Invictus Games is unity - competitors coming together with determined perseverance to conquer the obstacles that have limited them. Unity isn’t limited to the competition ground either. Events like these serve as a bridge between Armed Forces personnel and industry specialists, facilitating mutual understanding and connection in their shared pursuit of a common goal - recovery.

Sincere mutual understanding forms the foundation for exceptional partnerships, a sentiment which is evident through Brigantes’ collaborative support of Team UK at this year’s Games in Düsseldorf as their official kit sponsor. We are working with the Royal British Legion , who in partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence , are delivering Team UK to the Invictus Games in 2023 and 2025. With assistance from the apparel and equipment experts at Original Mountain Marathon, Endura, Speedo and SWiRL Global, Brigantes are providing kit for Team UK’s 59 competitors plus all of their friends and family members.

A Legacy of Resilience - The Invictus Games Story

The Invictus Games were founded in 2014 by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. During a deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand province between 2007 and 2008, Harry encountered three seriously injured comrades who would later become the inspiration for the Games. It was devastatingly clear that the injuries they had sustained meant that their lives would never be the same again. Harry felt compelled to search for a way for these men and women to navigate the physical and mental trauma they had experienced while serving their country.

A chance encounter in 2012 really set the wheels in motion. Harry met a British group who had recently competed in the ‘Warrior Games’, a sporting competition for wounded and ill military personnel. After attending the Warrior Games himself the following year, Harry was inspired to make his own move - an event that was bigger and even more impactful, with the potential to reap life-changing benefits for wounded military personnel and their families. Soon afterwards in September 2014, with over 400 participants from 13 different nations and 79,000 attendees throughout the event, the first-ever Invictus Games took place in London’s Olympic Stadium.

Games kit powered by military expertise

Brigantes is a key employer within the defence industry and several members of our team have served in the Armed Forces. We understand the life-altering impact that injuries and illnesses sustained during military service can have on servicemen and women and their families. A life once imbued with meaning and purpose can become a shell of an existence as a consequence of such trauma. Events like the Invictus Games are a lifeline through which wounded military personnel can find their way back from this brink.

Being selected as the official kit sponsor for Team UK is an enormous honour and gives us a chance to demonstrate our dedication and passion for events like this. As a key provider of military equipment solutions, our energy is generally focused on serving personnel who are engaged in active duty. It is tremendously important to us to have the opportunity to show our support and thanks to those who have dedicated their lives to this duty and are now navigating incredible difficulties as a consequence.

Matthew Williams , Brigantes CEO commented:

“To have been selected as the official kit sponsor for Team UK is a tremendous honour. Brigantes is a veteran-founded business so being able to utilise our expertise and partnerships to give back in this way is really important to us. The Invictus Games are a powerful illustration of the positive impact of sport on the road to recovery and I’m really proud to be able to see Team UK wearing Brigantes’ kit at this year’s competition.”

Collaboration for Success - Uniting Industry to Empower Team UK

We’ve been busy designing and equipping Team UK’s 59 competitors with everything they need to compete in their events. Collaboration has been at the core of our approach from the outset, an exemplification of the supportive team spirit of the games. Recognising that a challenge of this magnitude and importance required a team of carefully curated specialists, we enlisted the help of our friends at technical running brand, OMM , to design and manufacture some of the items of kit.

Colin Fisher , Product Designer at OMM , commented:

"We were delighted to be approached by Brigantes to design and supply the competitor and supporter kits for Team UK at this year’s Invictus Games.

The Original Mountain Marathon is a company and sporting event founded on the principles of resilience, fortitude and good humour; typified by the OMM event and in common with the military experience. First held in 1968 ‘The OMM’ has always had a strong association with the military with several veterans amongst our staff and volunteers, plus numerous serving and former service personnel participating each year to win a dedicated trophy for the best performing military team and is a recognised comparable activity for training purposes. This opportunity to support Brigantes and Team UK was not only an easy decision as the logical progression of this association but also an honour for the team here at OMM."

Seeking to cater to the diversity of athletic disciplines and individual needs of each of the team’s competitors, we’ve also partnered with renowned British brands, each excelling in their particular field of expertise. Part of the Pentland Brands group, Endura is responsible for crafting cutting-edge cycling apparel, whilst Speedo will be developing a bespoke range of swimwear for the competitors competing in aquatic events. Lastly, with a passionate commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, SWiRL Global LTD has worked on the development of sensory-considered robes, providing warmth and comfort to competitors and enhancing their experience both on and off the field.

As procurement professionals specialising in the provision of bespoke on-the-soldier solutions for serving military personnel, selecting the right brands with whom to collaborate on this project was really important to us. Each partnership needed to make sense, aligning with the core spirit of the Invictus Games and bringing unique and significant value to the competitors. Through this bespoke alliance of organisations, Team UK will benefit from an alchemy of specialities. Uniting first-hand military experience with cutting-edge technical design expertise, and intelligent, inclusivity-minded apparel manufacture.

Rachael Ladd and Steph Wilson, Co-Founders of SWirL Global commented:

"With our expertise in sensory considered products and knowledge of how trauma can impact sensory processing and tolerances, we are honoured to have been able to produce something for the Invictus Games competitors that has thought about the hidden barriers that some clothing may present. As a veteran-owned business, we recognise and value the power of communities supporting communities, with this being an incredible opportunity to demonstrate that"

In the lead-up to the Games in September, the Royal British Legion has been running regular training camps for Team UK. We attended some of the earlier training camps to meet with the competitors and to understand their unique kit requirements. Each participant is unique and comes with a different set of historical circumstances. Working closely with the team is a fundamental part of our design and manufacturing process, ensuring that the resulting pieces can support each individual to perform at their best and get the most out of their journey.

Recovery and rehabilitation are at the core of the Invictus Games process, and for many competitors, their journey commences long before the competition officially kicks off. Army veteran and 2023 Team UK competitor, Tilly, said:

“I cannot wait to be part of something again. It’s a sense of belonging and camaraderie that I really do miss. It’s just such a huge thing to be a part of, just like being in the military, and it’s already providing me with a great boost.”

We were in London last week to meet with the team at their final training camp ahead of the Games in September. It's at this camp that the team were issued with all of their items of kit, and we finally got the opportunity to see it in action! We'll be heading over to Düsseldorf for the Games opening ceremony on the 9th of September, so stay tuned for further updates.

Learn more about the Invictus Games.

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