The Hawai'i football team earned major style points at yesterday's introduction of its new uniforms.

Several weeks ago, the Warriors unveiled colored drawings of the home and road uniforms. But displayed on two Superhero-sculpted mannequins, the rich detail yesterday proved to be visual grace.

"It looks good," defensive end David Veikune said. "When you feel like you look good, it helps you out a little."

The uniforms were custom-tailored as part of the eight-year, $4.1 million apparel and marketing deal between UH and Maryland-based Under Armour. The deal goes into effect July 1, although polo shirts will be available for sale at Saturday's Warrior Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

The jersey tops are black (home) and white (road) with green short sleeves made with a tapa design and dark-green trim. The pants are black to match the black jerseys and green to go with the white tops. UH head coach Greg McMackin said the pants and jerseys can be mixed and matched.

"If we want changes, like putting tapa (bands) on the (pants) leg, they're willing to do it," McMackin said. "They're going out of their way to help us."

In helping to design the uniforms, McMackin insisted on implementing "our style of green" — a dark forest shade, specifically known as green No. 34 and No. 35.

"There are a lot of different greens," McMackin said. "It will be nice to focus on the school's green."

McMackin said the feel of the uniform is as important as the look. "Under Armour makes a very comfortable uniform," McMackin said.

Under Armour, which was founded in 1996, originally created a line of merchandise that was to be used under shirts. The unique material served as both a wind-breaker and sweat absorbing, providing warmth on cold evenings or cooling a sweaty player. Under Armour decided to expand, and now provides uniforms for a handful of college teams.

Kevin Haley, senior vice president/sports marketing for Under Armour, said UH's uniforms are expensive because of the blend of materials, and the cut-and-sew process of adding the tapa design.

Haley said the UH's pants will have the "cool-smooth feel like the original Under Armour undershirt" only the fabric will be more durable to endure football's rough-and-tough play.

He declined to reveal "the secret sauce" — the fabrics used for the jerseys.

"It's not the secret ingredients, but how you put it together, and what the finishes are," Haley said.

He said there are several types of liquid finishes, but what matters most is the number of times the fabric is treated.

"You can dip a fabric one time or five times," he said. "At five times, it is much more comfortable against your skin. It depends on what you're trying to achieve. If you're trying to achieve water repellency, it's very different than a cool hand or a wicking that will pull the sweat away from your skin and help it evaporate faster."

McMackin said he also is pleased with Under Armour's shoes, which are lighter than the Nike cleats the Warriors used last season.

Haley said Under Armour has the technology to custom-fit shoes.

"Some people have foot problems," Haley said. "We'll take a computer scan of their foot, and build the shoe to that specification."

Haley said the company can add different colors or designs to the basic black shoe.