Arsenal’s striking new kit is making waves for its links to Africa. The English Premier League giant has had players who were either born in Africa or represented the continent internationally so it is not surprising that its new kit has a touch of Africa.
Foday Dumbuya, who was born in Sierra Leone but grew up in London, is behind the kit. The collaboration between his clothing line Labrum London, Adidas, and Arsenal to introduce this kit was a dream come true for the fashion designer.
“From the streets of Freetown to the shores of Cyprus, to the vibrant heartbeat of London and back again… this journey has been nothing short of magical
RELATED STORIES
“I am beyond grateful and honoured to have collaborated with @arsenal @adidasfootball in designing the iconic Arsenal away kit for the 2025/26 season, alongside their culture wear collection,” Dumbuya wrote on Instagram recently.
Foday told BBC that he chose the kit’s colors to match those of the Pan-African flag, showing how important Africa is to his work and design.
“This was bigger than me. It was more about Africa. Can we put Africa to the forefront?” he said of the inspiration behind the kit.
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Dumbuya went to London when he was 12. He studied Information System Design at the university but once he realized his love for fashion, he started looking at ways to acquire the skills necessary to be a fashion designer. He eventually ended up at the London College of Fashion (LCF).
“LCF was that place. I realised I could do like different short courses that will help me to go into this area of work that I wanted to get into. I think it was very, very helpful to help me direct where I want it to go to,” he told the University of the Arts London.
“Firstly, I started doing Pattern Cutting and then also I did another short course focusing on Menswear Design. I think the skillset that I learned from those courses helped me know the path that I wanted to go down.”
After finishing his courses, he worked at major brands like Nike and DKNY before founding his clothing line Labrum London. Labrum means “the storytelling” in Latin. “We tell untold stories about London, about West Africa, about Sierra Leone – it’s about how you bridge the gap to the Western world. We tell stories of garments and have a huge community that we champion, and we bring those stories to life,” he said of the brand.
From the streets of Freetown to London, Dumbuya is now known for his innovative designs with Labrum London. This year, he debuted his latest collection “Nomoli Odyssey” at the Spring Summer 24 London Fashion Week, and last year, he won the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.
That accolade, he said, opened doors for his brand. “I think it also propelled the brand to be global. Places like Australia, the USA, Japan, people that never really knew who I was, now know who I am, and know the brand, the aesthetic, and the story that we tell. So, does it make a difference? A huge difference.”
Dumbuya, who became the first fashion designer spotlighted in the Bloomberg industry shakers list, said his parents have inspired him a lot, especially his mother.
“She taught me everything about how to love people, how to love humans and how to give back and connect with people from a deeper perspective.
“As you see with the brand, I surround myself with likeminded people that understand the story we try to tell, and championing other people as well. For my parents, those are the things that are in their DNA, and I think those are the things that inspire me to create what I create – this community of Labrum people.”
