Cardiff Met students help shape Team Wales identity ahead of Glasgow 2026

Cardiff Metropolitan University students and graduates are helping shape the look and identity of Team Wales ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with creative work spanning athlete leisurewear, pin badges and the King’s Baton Relay.

Students from Cardiff Met’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design degree have been working with Team Wales and Specialist Sports to design the adidas leisurewear kit that will be worn by Welsh athletes and team members at next summer’s Games.

Specialist Sports, Team Wales’ official leisurewear kit partner and distributor of adidas Teamwear across the UK and Ireland, was appointed by Team Wales to design and supply the leisurewear collection for Glasgow 2026.

The project began with a live brief delivered to second and third year Fashion Design students, who were asked to develop concepts that reflected Welsh culture, heritage and sporting ambition. Students worked in collaboration with Team Wales, Specialist Sports and members of the Team Wales Athlete Commission as their designs took shape.

The project has since moved from concept development into the next stage of the design process, with Cardiff Met student Jake Rowley among those gaining first-hand industry experience through the collaboration. Team Wales recently highlighted Jake’s visit to Specialist Sports’ headquarters in Southampton, where he was able to see the development process up close and gain an insight into how ideas are turned into kit for the international stage.

The leisurewear project forms part of a wider creative contribution from Cardiff School of Art and Design ahead of Glasgow 2026. CSAD students have also developed the athletes’ pin badges through a collaborative project across a number of undergraduate programmes, while Cardiff Met graduate and Welsh artist Nathan Wyburn has been announced as the designer of the Welsh Baton for the King’s Baton Relay.

Nathan, from Ebbw Vale, is known for his distinctive and unconventional approach to art, often using unusual materials to create portraits of well-known figures. His work has reached audiences across the UK and beyond, including through Britain’s Got Talent, where he reached the semi-final in 2011.

The King’s Baton Relay will take place across Wales from 19 to 24 June, celebrating Welsh heritage, culture and sporting success as excitement builds towards the Commonwealth Games. Unlike previous relays, each nation has received its own individual baton to design before it makes its way to Scotland for the Opening Ceremony.

Rebecca Edwards-Symmons, Chief Executive of Team Wales when talking to WSA earlier in 2026, said of Nathan’s involvement: “We are thrilled to have Nathan on board to design our Baton for this year’s King’s Baton Relay.

“His unique artistic style, paired with his passion and pride for his country is a perfect combination to create something special for Team Wales. The Relay is a unique opportunity to go on the road to build momentum towards the Games and with the baton at the forefront of the relay, it’s going to be really special. We are looking forward to seeing the final product and taking it across Wales, and then of course to the Opening Ceremony.”

Nathan added: “I’m ecstatic that I get to use my art to represent my country in this way. It’s such an honour. As soon as I was asked, my mind went into overdrive with creative ideas. I love art that has a powerful message but equally I love art that simply makes people smile. I endeavour to make this design a combination of both.”

Together, the projects highlight Cardiff Met’s long-standing relationship with Team Wales and the University’s commitment to giving students and graduates opportunities to contribute to major sporting moments with real-world impact.

Rebecca Edwards-Symmons previously said of the leisurewear collaboration: “Our partnership with Cardiff Met is working extremely well and we are really pleased to be able to offer this valuable opportunity to the students.

“To have Specialist Sports, adidas and Team Wales on their CV as a student will be hugely beneficial to their development. Our Athletes Commission have been central in working with the students on their designs and we can’t wait to showcase the final designs in Glasgow next year.”

Dr Bethan Gordan, Dean of the School of Art and Design at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said: “Collaborating with top designers to produce the leisure wear kit for Team Wales is undeniably an unparalleled opportunity for our students and showcases the calibre of Cardiff School of Art and Design.

“At Cardiff Met, we place a huge emphasis on our links with industry. Our students gain invaluable experience through working on live briefs, alongside professionals, to equip them with the skills needed for their careers. We have some incredibly talented students taking part in this project and I look forward to seeing the finished products worn by athletes taking part in the 2026 Games.”

Gavin Monk, Head of Design at Specialist Sports, said: “It’s been inspiring to witness the Cardiff Met students embrace the power of storytelling in their designs. The brief challenged them to capture the essence of Wales, its heritage, its passion, and its athletic ambition, and they’ve responded with remarkable creativity.

“At Specialist Sports, we believe that a kit should be more than just apparel; it should be a narrative that resonates with athletes and fans alike. These students have truly brought that philosophy to life, demonstrating the incredible impact of design when it’s rooted in a compelling story.”

With Glasgow 2026 approaching, Cardiff Met’s contribution to Team Wales is set to be seen far beyond the field of play, helping tell the story of Wales through design, creativity and sporting identity.