The Desert Vipers, one of the leading teams in the DP World International League T20 (ILT20), unveiled their 2025 season kit this morning at an event hosted at the SEE Institute in Dubai’s Sustainable City. The launch highlighted the Vipers’ Season 3 sustainability mission, emphasising their commitment to sustainable fashion and environmental accountability through the recently announced partnership with UAE-based sports apparel manufacturer PALMFIT. The collaboration yields a line of performance wear, team wear, and leisurewear made from recycled materials.
The event began with a 30-minute "Wake Up & Shake Up" high-intensity workout, engaging students from Dubai’s leading schools—GEMS Metropole Motor City, Dubai Heights, Fairgreen, GEMS Liberty, GEMS Winchester, SAFA Community, GEMS Legacy, and Jebel Ali School—as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge and in collaboration with the Dubai 30×30 initiative. The session was live-streamed to participating schools across Dubai, capturing the energy of students as they embraced fitness and sustainability side-by-side.
Following the workout, students had the unique opportunity to meet Vipers players Luke Wood and Azam Khan, who led them into workshops focused on sustainability in sports. Led by Desert Vipers’ Sustainability Lead, Ben Hardy Jones, with support from Toby Gregory of The Plastic Pledge and Sanjeevan Sandhu from the Vipers’ Wellbeing and Performance team, the workshops engaged students in a design sprint that explored the global impact of the fashion industry on the environment. The session inspired students to envision their role in driving change through conscious choices in fashion and sports.
Attendees also learned about the Desert Vipers’ ongoing sustainability initiatives, including their milestone achievement as the first cricket team to publish a complete carbon footprint analysis and eliminate single-use plastics within their team environment, with support from Bluewater Group and The Plastic Pledge.
The immersive experience continued as students moved into the SEE Institute’s “Immerse Room”—led by Head of Strategy for the Desert Vipers, Matt Bailey—where they watched an immersive video on the impacts of climate change on global sports and learned about the Vipers’ unique position as a powerful voice for environmental change.
"Our goal with this season’s sustainability initiative is not just to make a statement, but to set a new standard within the sports industry," commented Matt Bailey. "Through events like these, we’re not only introducing a line of sustainable sportswear that all sports teams in the UAE and beyond can join us by using, but also inspiring the next generation to prioritise sustainability in all aspects of their lives."
The event culminated with the reveal of the new season kit, modelled by Luke Wood, who represents England and Lancashire, and Azam Khan, a Pakistani international cricketer who plays for Islamabad United and Sindh. Students were thrilled to capture photos with the players and received signed bats and shirts as a memento of the experience.
The Desert Vipers are set to release their complete plastic footprint analysis next month, ahead of the 2025 DP World ILT20 season, reinforcing their position as the world’s first fully carbon-calculated cricket franchise and committing to a five-year, 50% carbon reduction plan.
"The Desert Vipers have always believed that we have a role to play both on and off the pitch," said Phil Oliver, CEO of the Desert Vipers. "Our sustainability efforts are a testament to our commitment to the planet, and this collaboration with PALMFIT only strengthens our resolve to lead by example in creating a greener future for sports."
The Desert Vipers’ 2025 season marks a pivotal step in transforming sports apparel and team operations, embodying a message that extends far beyond the cricket field. Their partnership with PALMFIT demonstrates that the journey to a greener world begins with innovative collaboration, inspiring the next generation to lead a more sustainable future.