Hello everyone, I’m Thomas Aldersley, one of the founders of Akuma Sports. I want to share something personal – how my company became a leader of sustainability in the sportswear world, and that ignited a fire in me that I never expected.
When my brothers and I started Akuma, we were focused on performance, speed, and quality – creating teamwear that athletes could rely on, made in the UK. We wanted to support grassroots clubs, elite teams, and everyone in between with kit that helps athletes to push their limits.
But as we grew, I became aware of the environmental impact of textile manufacturing, and what I found was sobering. The sheer volume of plastic waste, the damage to our oceans and the devastating effect on wildlife. It was impossible to ignore; we realised that if we were going to keep building Akuma, we had to do things differently.
That’s when our sustainability journey began. It wasn’t easy, switching to recycled materials meant rethinking everything. We started using polyester made from recycled plastic bottles, nylon reclaimed from fishing nets, and developed innovative fabric blends that could match the durability of virgin materials. It took years of trial and error; countless prototypes tested on muddy pitches and sun-baked gyms to get it right and ensure our ranges perform without compromise.
It wasn’t until we started this sustainability journey that I realised just how passionate I would become. What began as a responsible business decision evolved into a personal passion. I found myself obsessing over every detail—how we could reduce waste, cut emissions, and still deliver kit that teams love to wear.
Today, we’re proud to be manufacturing over 5,000 garments a week in the UK and are close to using only fully recycled materials. Every piece of kit we produce is a small step towards cleaner oceans and a healthier planet. And when we see teams performing in Akuma kit that is helping protect the environment, it’s more than just business; it’s a purpose.
We’re not just partnering with sports teams anymore; we’re partnering with the planet that fuels all our adventures.
Thanks for being part of this incredible journey.
Thomas
