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About Curvo

Built
different.

There was no serious, premium sportswear brand built for the South African player. So we built one. Here is who we are, how we build, and what we refuse to compromise on.

Our Story
"There was no premium SA alternative. So we made one."
— The Curvo Brief, 2024

The serious South African player — someone training three to five times a week, playing amateur to semi-pro — had no premium local option. The only choices were global giants charging a premium for a brand that wasn't built for this game, this heat, or this surface.

Curvo was built to change that. Not to undercut Nike and Adidas on price. To outperform them on relevance. A brand that understands hard SA pitches, the daily grind of amateur football, and the pride of pulling on a kit that looks as serious as you play.

We carry two ranges: Core — built for the grind, for daily training, for punishment. And Premier — built for the moment, for match day, for the performance that counts. Every product at Curvo sits in one of these two ranges, designed for its purpose, built to its standard.

South Africa's game. South Africa's brand. Built for the game.

How We Build

The natural fiber commitment

Natural fibers — bamboo lyocell, merino wool, organic cotton — are generally safer for the skin because they are breathable, hypoallergenic, and free from the heavy chemical processing found in synthetics. Curvo sets a minimum floor of 60% natural fiber across every garment we make. This is not a marketing number. It is a manufacturing standard we enforce at supplier level.

60%
Natural fiber minimum
Bamboo lyocell, merino wool, and organic cotton make up the majority of every garment. Breathable, hypoallergenic, and kind to skin.
100+
Substances tested
Every fabric is independently tested and verified free from over 100 harmful substances before it is used in any Curvo garment.
0%
Synthetic skin contact
Synthetic elastane is hidden inside a natural fiber sheath. Only the organic surface touches your skin. The performance happens invisibly inside.
Our Standard

What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 actually means

You have probably seen the OEKO-TEX label on clothing before. Here is what it actually means in plain language — and why it matters for sportswear specifically.

OEKO-TEX
Standard 100
100+
Harmful substances tested

Tested for over 100 harmful substances including pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and allergenic dyes.

It is not self-certified. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 requires testing by an independent institute — not a manufacturer's own lab. If a supplier claims it without documentation, it does not count.
It covers every component. Not just the outer fabric — threads, buttons, zips, linings, and prints must all pass. A jersey with a certified shell but an uncertified lining is not OEKO-TEX certified.
It matters more in sportswear. When you exercise, your skin pores open. Absorption of chemical residues increases significantly. The certification that is adequate for a dress shirt is the minimum standard for a football kit.
It matters most for children. Children's skin is thinner and more permeable than adults. Any kit worn by a child — school sport, junior clubs, weekend football — should be held to this standard as a minimum.
Curvo will not use any fabric that cannot produce the certificate. If a supplier cannot provide OEKO-TEX Standard 100 documentation, we do not source from them. No exceptions.
Printing

The hard truth about sublimation printing

This is the section most brands would never publish. We think transparency is a competitive advantage.

What most brands do
Traditional dye-sublimation
True dye-sublimation is chemically impossible on natural fibers. Sublimation works because synthetic polymers like polyester open up when heated, allowing gaseous ink to bond with the plastic molecules. Natural fibers lack these molecular structures entirely.

To print on natural fabrics using sublimation, a manufacturer must either use a heavy polyester blend (50–60% polyester minimum) or spray a chemical polymer coating onto the natural fabric before printing. Both approaches defeat the purpose of a skin-safe garment.
The Curvo approach
Digital pigment printing + water-based screen printing
Digital pigment printing binds directly to the surface of natural fibers using heat curing and eco-friendly, water-based inks. No polymer coatings. No synthetic base required. Full-colour, all-over patterns are completely achievable on natural fabrics.

Water-based screen printing is used for logos and club badges. Solvent-free, non-toxic inks that sink into the fabric rather than sitting on top as a heavy plastic sheet. This is how Curvo puts your crest on your kit without compromising the material standard.
Construction

Core-spun construction — only natural touches skin

High-performance stretch and compression require elastane. But elastane is synthetic. Core-spinning is the engineering technique that lets us have both — performance stretch and a natural fiber skin contact surface.

Core-Spun Yarn — Cross Section
Bamboo / Merino Sheath
Touches skin
Organic Cotton Layer
Breathability
Transition Zone
No skin contact
Elastane Core
Performance stretch

The elastane thread is tightly wrapped in bamboo or merino fiber. When knitted, only the organic surface is exposed to skin.

01
The performance problem
A football sock built from 100% organic cotton or bamboo will absorb sweat like a sponge, become heavy, stretch out within twenty minutes, and slide down to the ankle. Natural fibers alone cannot meet the demands of professional sport.
02
The core-spun solution
Core-spinning takes the elastane thread and tightly wraps it in natural bamboo or merino fiber. The synthetic core provides compression and stretch recovery. The natural sheath is what your skin actually touches. The best of both — hidden inside each yarn.
03
The recycled nylon rule
Recycled nylon is used only in the heel and toe reinforcement zones where abrasion resistance is critical. It is never used in the leg or instep — the primary skin contact areas. This is a non-negotiable in our sock manufacturing specification.
Fabric Specs

Fabric blueprint by product type

Every Curvo product category has a defined material specification. These are the exact blend targets we give to our manufacturers.

Product Base Fiber Blend % Technique Purpose
Football Socks Bamboo Lyocell / Merino Wool
Natural		 65%
+ 18% organic cotton
+ 10% recycled nylon (heel/toe)
+ 7% core-spun elastane		 Core-spun circular knit Moisture wicking, compression, durability, only natural skin contact
Match Jersey Bamboo Lyocell / Organic Cotton
Natural		 70%
+ 25% recycled polyester mesh
+ 5% elastane		 Digital pigment print Breathable, lightweight, full-colour customisation without synthetic coatings
Training Tracksuit Organic Cotton French Terry
Natural		 80%
+ 15% recycled polyester
+ 5% elastane		 Water-based screen print Warmth, comfort, durability for training environments
Match Shorts Bamboo Lyocell / Organic Cotton
Natural		 68%
+ 27% recycled polyester
+ 5% elastane		 Digital pigment print Freedom of movement, breathability, moisture management
Compression Tights Merino Wool / Bamboo Lyocell
Natural		 62%
+ 28% recycled nylon
+ 10% core-spun elastane		 Core-spun knit Graduated compression, natural skin contact, muscle support
Our Standards

Built to a standard, not a price point

Three commitments we make on every product we produce. Not aspirational targets — manufacturing requirements.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Every fabric independently tested for over 100 harmful substances — pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and allergenic dyes. No exceptions. No fabric without the certificate.
SA Condition Tested
Built for hard South African pitches, dry heat, and repeated washing. Our Core Range uses wear-resistant sublimation polyester with reinforced stitching and abrasion-resistant panels specifically for this environment.
Quality Guaranteed
We stand behind every product with a quality guarantee. If it fails from manufacturing defects within normal use, we replace it. No questions, no hoops.
Custom Kits

Your crest.
Our build standard.

Get a full team kit — Game or Training — built to the same Curvo standard, with your club badge on every piece. From R 520 per unit. 10 minimum. 21 working days.

Contact

Get in touch

Email
hello@curvo.co.za
Custom Kits & Bulk Orders
kits@curvo.co.za
Location
South Africa
Ships nationwide
Response time
We respond to all enquiries within 1 working day.