Dazed Sport

Adidas x East Bengal Football concept When listening to tales about my father’s youth in India, he fondly reminisced going to East Bengal Football Club games, which I found strange because he does not go to football matches in the UK. Turns out they weren’t very welcome spaces for Indians when he moved to the UK as a student and his love of football faded. East Bengal Football Club was assembled by Bengalis who were displaced from modern-day Bangladesh to India amidst the violent riots of partition in 1947. They became a beacon of hope as Bengalis settled into Kolkata and they had to fight for their acceptance into certain leagues which led to protests - they are still known as the Torchbearers with a flaming torch on their crest and gold and red club colours. Their revolutionary spirit lives strong today and they are one of the most successful and widely supported clubs in the country. Inspired by Adidas’ alternative football kits and their sponsor-free ‘Lifestyler’ shirts, and paying homage to my father's sacrifices, I designed a new crest and kit for the East Bengal Football Club. Click on the shirt below to view the whole project on Behance: