Yup, you read that right. In collaboration with German sportswear brand Adidas, French-Malian photographer Emile Samory-Fofana has just debuted the world’s first “functional football qamis” for prospective wearers to be “as comfortable on the pitch as on a prayer mat.”
In the works for the past year, the visually-striking campaign presents the white thobe, as we know it, adorned with Adidas’ logo on the chest and its iconic three stripes running from the armpits all the way down to the ankles. In his first official collaboration with the sportswear giant, the unexpected partnership seems to explore the multifaceted relationship football entertains with religion, highlighting how the beautiful game can often play a unifying role in the same way faith and spirituality do.
On a continent where bootleg football shirts are so ubiquitous, donned almost as uniforms for everyday life, this rendition of the traditional ankle-length robe aims to celebrate the intersection of sport and cultural heritage, offering a new take on the more conservative and conventional through this limited-edition piece.
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“As a multidisciplinary artist, I’m proud to be able to bring this special project to life and execute my vision from start to finish. From making bootleg football qamis to work with adidas designers, do the styling on my models, shoot the campagn, and wear my own product,” Samory-Fofana wrote in caption of a post revealing his latest piece of work. “Now it’s in your hands and I can’t wait to see you wearing it,” he added.
This is not the first time that Samory-Fofana has tried his hand at re-working thobes. In 2022, the Paris-born photographer had sent waves across social media for transforming the same traditional piece of clothing into body-length football shirts from Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
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As of right now, the Adidas-sponsored qamis will only be available to friends and family of both the brand and the photographer. Although its availability to the general public remains uncertain, Samory-Fofana mentioned that those interested in securing a set should DM him on his official Instagram account.
