QUICK TAKE | Why Bayern Munich Turned Its Third Kit Into a One-Off Diwali Jersey. Seven Things to Know
1. What did Bayern Munich unveil for Diwali?
On November 8, the German club showed off a one-of-a-kind Diwali jersey on Instagram. It commissioned Sehgal to reinterpret its third kit, the alternate strip alongside its home and away kits. Bayern used the finished shirt to send Diwali greetings to fans.
2. Who is Abhay Sehgal?
Sehgal is a Delhi-based contemporary artist who studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He works across painting, illustration and animation. His work often brings dreamlike imagery to everyday objects. For Bayern, that object was a football shirt.
3. How did Indian craftsmanship make it onto the shirt?
Sehgal used embroidery and block printing. Embroidery builds patterns with thread, while block printing transfers a design onto fabric with a stamp. The two techniques gave him ways to work directly on the jersey, and he chose bright colours to evoke Diwali.
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4. What story was Sehgal trying to tell?
The design takes Diwali’s association with light and new beginnings and applies it to children who dream of playing football. Sehgal’s premise, as Bayern describes it, is that a child’s background should never decide whether they get a chance to play.
5. Who got to see it at Bayern?
Bayern showed the finished piece to Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, Luis Díaz and other first-team players. The club said the players took an interest in the motifs and the stories behind them.
6. Can fans buy the Diwali jersey?
Bayern says the shirt was made as a one-off and is unavailable for purchase. The club’s announcement described a presentation to the players and gave no plans for the team to wear it in a match.
7. Has Bayern made a festival jersey before?
Yes. Bayern and Adidas released an Oktoberfest shirt in September with a floral pattern and a custom Wiesn crest. The Munich festival jersey went on sale. For Diwali, Bayern put its third kit in the hands of an Indian artist and kept the result to a single piece.