The unveiling of artist Emile-Samory Fofana's first collaboration with adidas this week should be seen as more than just a new football kit. It should perhaps be interpreted as an attempt to bring people together and break down barriers. The all-white qamis – or thobe – runs to the ankle and comes with the brand's distinctive three stripes down the sides in gold. Fofana unveiled the project on social media, writing: “We developed a functional football qamis for you to be as comfortable on the pitch as on a prayer mat.” He says it's the perfect illustration of a “man who can do both”, adding: “I couldn’t be more happy with the result of this hybridation.” It is not the first qamis the artist has made using the adidas stripes. However, it is the first officially backed by the sports company. A big football fan, Fofana is of Malian descent and grew up in Paris. As an artist, he explores the point where sport and culture intersect in Mali.
