Rugby fans will have an opportunity to view the replicas of All Blacks Rugby jerseys used more than 100 years ago.
Massey University (Wellington) College of Creative Arts School of Fashion Design Tutor Tina Downes has recreated the ‘Originals’ made for the team in 1905 and the ‘Invincibles’ produced in 1924.
The third replica is of the blue jersey worn by the first New Zealand Rugby team in 1884. It has a gold fern on the chest and was designed from photographs, since there were no surviving pieces from the past.
Unlike the modern jerseys, which are synthetic, the earlier versions were made out of pure wool. These are now on view at the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North. Officials are considering if it would be feasible to produce these in large numbers to meet the expected demand.
“But the cost per jersey, produced in the modern synthetic material, could cost more than $150 a piece. The jerseys not only look the same as those worn by the early touring teams, but have also been knitted at the Manawatu Knitting Mills, using the same techniques and materials,” a Massey University official said.
For the present, the Museum has planned two replicas of each.
Museum Director Stephen Berg said the jerseys will be seen by thousands of international visitors expected for the Rugby Club matches in New Zealand.
Ms Downes said it was good to see the Manawatu Knitting Mills and the Robert Embroidery (Palmerston North) that produced the 1905 versions were still in business.
Ms Downes said her task was full of challenges.
“These included finding materials for adornments like the shoulder yoke to the 1905 jersey, which was brown linen. I suspect it had linseed oil applied to it. The original jerseys were made with machinery using imperial measurements rather than metric,” she said.
According to Massey University officials, the job also involved detective work.
“A monogrammed ‘M’ in the museum’s jersey, originally worn by 1905 All Black Jimmy Hunter, was found in the other surviving jerseys of that team and hence has been included in the replicas. Staff from the museum and the knitting mill said the mill had the letter knitted probably as a brand mark.”
The 1924 jersey was knitted in heavier wool.
According to Mr Berg, many players of the past did not give their jerseys away, swap them with opponents or preserve them as souvenirs.
“Evidence points to the fact that the players used the jerseys to work in and would keep them and wear them till they literally fell apart,” he said.
