With only a few days to the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Kenyans have been keenly observing what athletes will wear to the games, believing that they not only travel to compete but also to represent the country’s rich heritage.

For this year’s Team Kenya Olympic travel kit, Home254, a renowned Kenyan apparel brand, was tasked with creating a design that encapsulates our legacy in sports and amplifies the sheer talent, hopes, and dreams of every Kenyan.

Athletes will don red tracksuits emblazoned with a checkered pattern of green, black, and white on the chest on the day they travel for the games. On the right side of the track jacket is an embroidery of the Team Kenya logo, while on the left is a Tusker logo with the tagline “Champion of Cheers.”

Fashion with purpose

According to Job Brian, CEO of Home254, this was an opportunity to demonstrate patriotism through a collective love for fashion by fusing the national flag colors with fabric that represents a Made-in-Kenya brand.

“We wanted to deliver a Kenyan brand that is fashionable, stylish, and patriotic for our athletes to represent the country to the world. It is a unique kit that has never been seen before. The fabric considers the weather in Paris at the moment and also how the athletes will feel and look when they wear it,” he said.

He noted that partnering with Kenya Breweries through the Tusker brand was an entry point to show that brands like Home254 are quality brands while amplifying the capacity of local manufacturing industries to create products that meet international standards.

“It was a privilege to have been approached to make this kit because it puts an indelible stamp on a product made by us, for us, for the international stage.

There is also a lot of trust in us to come up with a quality kit, which validates the work that we have been doing for the past seven years,” he added. He urged young professionals coming up in the industry to persevere and not take the easier route to success.

“It is true and right to follow your passion, but passion alone is not enough. Consistency is hard, but it is a virtue that helps you stay in the game, coupled with discipline,” he said.

KBL Managing Director Mark Ocitti stated that the kit demonstrates the company’s commitment to Team Kenya and the local creative arts industry.

“We at KBL are proud of our ongoing support for Team Kenya in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The development of this travel kit exemplifies our commitment to ensuring our athletes look their best as they represent Kenya on the global stage,” he added.

Partnership

“Tusker, a proudly Kenyan brand, is also dedicated to supporting other Kenyan businesses and showcasing their ability to produce top-quality goods. We entrusted Home254 with this responsibility, and they have undeniably proven that Kenya possesses the talent and skill to compete with the world’s biggest brands.”

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) Secretary General Francis Mutuku expressed his gratitude to KBL for the partnership.

“Tusker has consistently demonstrated their commitment to our athletes, and sponsoring the design and production of the Team Kenya travel kit is a shining example.

The positive reception from the athletes speaks volumes about the quality of this kit. We are sincerely thankful to KBL for their support and for being part of Team Kenya’s journey to the Paris Olympic Games.”

Cultural inspiration

The designers said the apparel was inspired by the cultural heritage that Kenyans pride themselves in. They borrowed heavily from the Maasai community’s checked shuka, which is often red with black stripes and is affectionately known as the “African Blanket,” as well as the colors of the flag to present our identity.

“We drew inspiration from the Maasai community shuka, which is widely known to represent our culture and our identity, along with the colors of the flag. Our goal was to design apparel that athletes would feel comfortable and proud in,” said Michelle Nduta, a Home254 designer.

Additionally, the white t-shirts that athletes will wear have the Kenyan map printed on the front side, showcasing the pristine hills, vegetation, and escarpments of different regions of the country. “Basically, we are showcasing our landmarks to the world.

When they wear them, they are showing what Kenya represents and what we pride ourselves in. It makes me proud to see my design out there in Paris,” she added.

Tusker, a product of Kenya Breweries Limited, is a main sponsor for Team Kenya’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The first step, after receiving the brief on what was required, was to think through the design process, the colors, and the fabric to complete the assignment while ensuring we delivered a level of nuance with the design.

“I usually design using computer software to speed up the process. After gathering inspiration, we create three to four designs before sitting together as a team to choose the one that works best,” she said. “After that, we start the sampling process, followed by getting the fits and measurements right. Then we proceed to actual production of the final product.”

“I’m so happy that people get to see what Kenyans can do, and we don’t need to import or use other people to clothe our Kenyan athletes. So, there is a lot of pride in knowing we can do it ourselves. It is also a motivation for all the upcoming designers to know that we can achieve this. We do not need to outsource sporting apparel or otherwise for our people,” she added.

For Nduta, the process of creating the travel kit was more than a job; it is an indelible mark in the history of fusing sports and fashion, which exemplifies the scale of the local manufacturing industry.

“I would like to tell our athletes that this apparel is made with so much love, and it’s made from Home254. Always remember Kenya is our home. I want them to wear those apparel with pride because we are all Kenyans, and it’s made by Kenyans. We are happy to have done it for them,” she added.

Eunice Mutisya, the Production Lead at Home254, said it had been an honor to work on the Olympic travel kit, adding that it was an opportunity to show the world the brand’s capacity and competency in the garment industry in Kenya.

“When we make our garments, safety and durability are key elements in the production process. We have used polyester material with a bit of spandex to ensure the athletes feel comfortable, as it stretches and adapts to their movements, maintaining comfort and weather conditions,” she said. She noted that having worked with a variety of fabrics made it easier to address any challenges the production team encountered.

“The production process of these kits has been relatively smooth for us. The minimal challenge we faced was working on the jackets, which were a bit bulky and slippery on the machine. To address this, we first dealt with the critical operations that required more time and handling, such as starting with the pockets, then attaching the sleeves, the collars, and the ribs, which were the last parts of the process.”

“When stitching, we first conducted color fastness testing to ensure that once the garments are washed or exposed to sunlight, they still maintain their color. We also ensured that the apparel is sweat-resistant, so when athletes sweat, it evaporates,” Mutisya added.