The Bison Beer Project
How My Sunday League Team Became the First Melaa Kit Project
Every business starts with a story. For me, it wasn’t a pitch deck or a grand launch event — it was a muddy Sunday morning and a mismatched football kit.
Before Melaa was a brand, it was a problem that needed solving. That problem? Our Sunday league team looked terrible.
The Sunday League Struggle Was Real
Like many grassroots teams, we had heart and hustle, but no identity. We were turning up in odd socks, faded shirts from seasons ago, and shorts that had seen better days.
We wanted to look like a proper team. But whenever we looked for new kits, the options were either generic, overpriced, or poor quality. Custom designs were either too expensive or required huge minimum orders — something completely unrealistic for a Sunday league side like ours.
That frustration planted a seed.
Turning Frustration Into a Solution
I thought, what if I tried to make our own kit? Something fresh, unique, and affordable — a kit that actually represented us.
That idea became an experiment. I started sketching concepts, playing with patterns and colour palettes, and reaching out to suppliers. It wasn’t perfect at first, but there was something exciting about it — something that felt bigger than just a kit for the lads.
This was the first step towards what would become Melaa.
These were some of the early kits that didn’t quite get into production
Designing Our First Kit: The Birth of Melaa
Creating that first kit was a mix of chaos and creativity. I wanted to get it just right — not just for performance, but for pride. I worked with a small supplier and freelance designers, tested a few materials, and refined the design over a few weeks.
Eventually, we landed on something that felt true to us: bold, clean, and different from anything we saw in the league. We had our name, our colours, and our style — and we finally looked like a team.
From there we added training tops that are fully reversible, rain jackets and just recently, tracksuits that match our new kit. The Bison Beer Project is now a full range of match wear.
From Local Team to Launching Melaa
That first kit project lit the fire. I realised this could be more than a one-off — this could be a brand.
Melaa was born from the desire to give every football team, no matter the level, a kit they could be proud of. Something that looked and felt professional, without the ridiculous price tag. Something custom, without the hassle.
We’ve grown since then, but the mission hasn’t changed. Whether it’s a Sunday league side or a youth team on the rise, we’re here to help clubs represent who they are — with kits that are affordable, bold, and full of character.
The Legacy of That First Kit
I still keep one of those first shirts in my wardrobe. It’s a reminder of where this all started: a group of mates, a love for football, and a belief that we could do better.
If you’re reading this and you’re part of a team struggling with the same kit problems we had, just know — that’s exactly why Melaa exists.
Let’s make your kit the next story.
Our latest design is a throwback, a retro kit with a Melaa twist… kit porn at its finest
