A sportswear collection inspired by Chelsea’s 90s kit and traditional Igbo fashion.
Popular football club Chelsea FC has partnered with the British-Nigerian designer, Ebele Ojechi to create an Igbo-inspired collection tagged “For the Glory” – a sportswear collection inspired by Chelsea’s 90s kit and traditional Igbo fashion. It celebrates the connection between Chelsea and its Nigerian community. Ojechi, one of the winners of the football club’s Blue Creator Fund, also had an exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London.
The collection is a creative combination of streetwear, crochet, and traditional Igbo materials, making it a well-rounded representation of Nigerians' experiences in London, Igbo traditional outfits, and past and present fashion styles. In a conversation with Forbes, Ojechi stated that the collection is inspired by “different cultures” and that she finds football clubs to be a mixture of multiple cultures from all over the world. Some of the pieces were also made from old and current kits which Ojechi said are the “anchor” of the entire collection. Additionally, watching mothers who return to football after childbirth was another inspiration for the designer, who revealed that it was inspiring to watch football moms balance motherhood and their careers. Laura Cordingley, the CEO of the Chelsea Foundation, also applauded Ojechi’s collection, calling it a “must-see that explores 120 years of club kit history and the club’s relationship with Nigeria as well.”
The photoshoot that accompanied the announcement of the collection featured football stars like Sandy Baltimore, Oriane Jean-Francoise, and other models. While the collection’s exhibition in London may have ended, Ojechi’s creation will continue to represent the power of creativity and Black excellence. The “For the Glory” collection shows that Black culture has a place in global fashion and that it can also be an intersection between fashion and sport, while remaining true to its traditional influences without losing its essence. With the widespread support for the collection, fashion enthusiasts can expect more creations like this, as it demonstrates that black culture can thrive on global stages.
