How Bangladesh’s football jersey made FIFA history

This World Cup season, football fans in Bangladesh experience a familiar mix of heartbreak and hope. While our national team may not yet be competing on the pitch at the highest level, our presence is making echoes on the global stage in a different way.

Recently, the FIFA Museum in Zurich added the Bangladesh national jersey to its iconic collection. For the first time, our colours stand alongside historic and memorable jerseys from across the globe, dating back to the very first World Cup.

This milestone was made possible through the vision of Tasmit Afiyat Arny. As the creative director of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Arny took on the responsibility of redefining how our athletes are represented. She is also the founder and creative director of Stride Fashion Wear, bringing over 14 years of expertise to a project that she considers her most significant work to date.

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The language of the jersey

Arny explains that she wanted the jersey to speak for the nation through its art.

For the white away jersey, she turned to the Sundarbans and traditional Jamdani patterns for inspiration. There were strips of red and green for the colour of our flag, but hidden within the patterns lies a world of meticulous details.

"If you zoom into the Jamdani-inspired tiger face on the jersey, you will find our national bird, the magpie-robin, and the Hilsa fish hidden within the details," Arny explained passionately.

This level of intricate designing was intended to show the world that our national kit is a canvas of our heritage.

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A labour of pure love

What makes this project truly stand out is Arny’s commitment to the cause. Despite the international praise and the complexity of the design, she chose not to charge the federation a single penny for her work.

"I did this purely for my country, so I did not take any money for it," she added proudly. She believes that when working for the nation, the ultimate reward is the legacy left behind for others to see.

Arny spent months on research and coordination between Qatar and Bangladesh to ensure the production quality met international standards. The confirmation of the jersey’s place in Zurich arrived as a sudden surge of messages while she was travelling in the USA.

“We might not have found a place in the World Cup yet, but I have carved out a spot for our work in the museum, and now the name of Bangladesh is being pronounced there," Arny reflected.

Breaking the creative mould

This achievement was proof that our local stories have a significant place on the global map. The path to Zurich was not without its hurdles. Arny faced various sceptics as a woman carving out a space in the fiercely male-dominated sports industry, often fighting to have her creative vision taken seriously.

By breaking these barriers, she has set a new benchmark for the next generation of Bangladeshi artists. She urged young designers to prioritise their country and their legacy over temporary gains.

“If we stop looking for excuses and start pouring our passion into our heritage, we can create work so powerful that the world will have no choice but to acknowledge the brilliance of Bangladesh," she stated firmly.

By weaving the Jamdani and the Royal Bengal Tiger into the fabric of global football, she has ensured that our cultural identity will be remembered for generations to come.

Photo: Courtesy