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The Sierra Leone-born designer reveled the story behind the Gunners’ away kit which resembles Kenyan flag while sharing the promise made to him by Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal’s kit designer has revealed the thought process behind the club’s away jersey which has excited Kenyans due to its resemblance with the country’s flag.
Labrum London founder Foday Dumbuya, who was born in Sierra Leone, says the kit was more about the celebration of African culture, and he is delighted that Kenyans have embraced it.
“This was bigger than me, it was more about the culture, it was more about Africa, can we put Africa to the forefront?” Dumbuya told the BBC.
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Kenyan fans react to latest African-inspired Arsenal away kits that resemble nation's flag
Kenyan fans react to Arsenal's new African-Inspired away kit.
“Once I pitched the idea of like the kit resonates with the movement of people and the artwork can have that zigzag form, I think they bought into it straight away.”
Dumbuya says he had to go down that route since African fashion has not been portrayed well in the mainstream media and ensured the trail of the kit launch was shot in his native Sierra Leone.
“There was something that was missing in the mainstream media. African fashion wasn’t portrayed the right way that I know it and African culture wasn’t portrayed the right way I know it,” he added.
“It was just nice to take it back to where I am from [shooting the trail in Sierra Leone], to look at the way kids connect with football, the way people look at football back in Africa because to them football is life.”
The designer also revealed the excitement of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka once he learnt of the story behind the kit, promising to do whatever he can to win the Premier League title this season.
“He [Saka] didn’t realise what the inspiration was for the kit until I told him, so I said to him; ‘Look, you have to win the league next year.’ and he said; ‘Yeah we have to win the league.’ This means everything to him,” said Dumbuya.
The shirt uses a black base with red and green highlights, and a black and white patterned stripe on the sleeves and down the sides and Kenyans think it was inspired by the country’s national flag.
Dumbuya is happy that Kenyans have taken the kit to heart and wants the message spread across Africa.
“They already have [Kenyans embraced it as national jersey]. If we understand this doesn’t just represent Kenya it represents the whole of Africa,” said Dumbuya who wishes the kit inspires the Gunners to Premier League glory.
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“If that happens, then Africa wins. We are talking about a continent that loves football and football is life. I think the whole of Africa will celebrate because it feels Africa has brought a renewed energy and good luck to Arsenal because we haven’t won the league for 20 years,” he said.
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