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Forest Green have unveiled a striking new kit made from bamboo with a zebra stripe design.

They have kept the green and black colours for the home strip but have moved away from the traditional hoops , while the away kit adopts a black-on-black zebra look and both will last for two seasons.

The club say the new home and away strips have been “inspired by nature” and are the first in football to be made from bamboo – a fast growing, sustainable material. It uses a 50 per bamboo mix to significantly reduces the use of plastic.

In a statement, Forest Green say the design “comes from chairman Dale Vince’s desire to create an evolution of the club’s now world-famous green and black hoops.

“The new design is inspired by the animal’s natural camouflage – so effect for a dazzle of zebra when bamboozling predators and stopping them from attacking. The zebra’s striping also makes it harder for rivals to judge their speed and direction.”

Both kits feature Forest Green’s infamous three stars on the back again, which signify the club’s ambition to reach the Championship, with one coloured in so far to mark promotion to the Football League in 2017, and two greyed out to represent the steps needed to reach its goal.

The club came close to filling in another star last season, narrowly missing out on promotion to League One.

(Image: Forest Green Rovers FC)

The kits have been designed by Player Layer, who became the club’s supplier for the first time last season after Hummel were unable to deliver them on time for the start of the season.

Vince said: “We’ve taken inspiration from nature with our new kit – from the zebra stripes to the sustainable materials.

“I was pretty shocked when I found out that modern sportswear is actually made from plastic – that feels wrong to me, not just from the sustainability point of view, but for performance too.

“Together with PlayerLayer, we’re making strides towards a new approach for football kit – this year’s 50% Bamboo is a stake in the ground (no pun intended), we plan to move beyond that. The aim is 100% sustainable high-performance material.”

(Image: Forest Green Rovers FC)

Forest Green’s support of its conservation partner Sea Shepherd also features in the new design, with the marine charity’s iconic skull and crossbones on the back of every shirt.

For the first time, Oatly – the club’s plant-based milk partner - sponsor the shorts, with their logo appearing on the back of every pair.

The club will also launch an all-new third kit in partnership with Sea Shepherd next month, as a tribute to the organisation’s work, and as part of a major fundraising initiative instigated by the club.

(Image: Forest Green Rovers FC)

Roderick Bradley, co-founder of PlayerLayer, added: “We are privileged to work with such a forward thinking, creative and rebellious football club. We are developing some completely natural fabrics which will change the sports clothing industry forever.”

Fans can pre-order the new home and away kits now from the Forest Green website.

The kit will be available to purchase in person at the New Lawn for the Bristol City pre-season friendly, Wednesday, July 24. Products will also be on sale from Forest Green Rover’s official merchandise partner, Batemans in Stroud from August.