With the popular UEFA Champions League back in play, a lot of buzz has been growing around football season. We first saw FC Barcelona reveal their collaboration with American label Thom Browne. Now, Adidas Football just dropped ‘Human Race’ jerseys, designed by Pharrell Williams for five major football clubs including FC Bayern Munchen and Real Madrid.
Starring in the campaign is British-Bangladeshi Muslim makeup artist Salwa Rahman, sporting the jersey of her favourite club Arsenal. Never shying away from bold shades, she paired her makeup with her football shirt with an eclectic fluo-yellow and turquoise makeup look to match.
Rahman’s brush strokes complemented the jersey’s spray-painted pattern perfectly, and added up to the handmade effect of the collection.
The collaboration included a recreation of five past legendary jerseys for each club, using hand painting and tie & dye techniques. ‘Iconic, creative, imperfect, human. The [club] jersey, redesigned by hand for the human race’, was the message behind the unique design process of the ‘Human Race’ initiative.
Rahman’s involvement in the campaign is also a huge step towards Muslim and hijabi representation in the world of sportswear. The artist’s unique creative identity and rejection of ‘natural’ mainstream makeup is a shoutout to the boldness and individuality of Muslim girls across the world. And this isn’t the first time Rahman was tapped by a major international brand. Her previous collaborations include Glossier and sportswear giants Nike and Champion.
The jerseys are now available to purchase on both Adidas and official club stores, with FC Bayern Munchen proceeds benefiting SOS Children’s Villages worldwide.
