RAJASTHAN ROYALS 2022
Service | Apparel Design
Concept: Leheriya
Leheriya is a traditional tie-dye technique from Rajasthan, known for its distinctive wave-like patterns. The technique, deeply rooted in Rajasthani culture, is a big part of the region’s rich textile heritage and is often associated with vibrant colours and fluid movement. This made for a good reference as a concept within sport, where storytelling than link to dynamism and motion. By integrating this locally recognised pattern into the design, the kit was able to reference tradition but also bring a unique modern take to match and training settings.
Match Kit
The traditional, striped, Leheriya pattern was created using two shades of pink, reinforcing the team’s identity as THE pink club within the IPL whilst incorporating navy sleeves ensured wearability beyond the field of play. To maximise contrast next to the pink, and to ensure balance throughout the entire kit, the jersey is paired with a navy pant that used the Leheriya pattern within the side panel.
This use of pink body, navy sleeves and navy pant as the overall colour blocking has remained the club’s go to match look ever since.
Training Kit
The training kit allowed for more creative freedom, leveraging the broader club palette. A modern version of a globally recognisable tie-dye effect used, incorporating royal blue, navy blue, and pink to create a vibrant, eye-catching design. This experimental graphical approach to traditional textile techniques blurred the lines between formal textiles and performance wear. By using the expanded colour palette and more progressive design, the training kit offered a more youthful appeal, catering to both young players and fans.
Print Technique
To establish a clear link to sports while differentiating from the purely traditional Leheriya look, a more modern adaptation was developed using halftone dots. This technique ensures the design feels progressive whilst allowing for easier sublimation printing by eliminating any smooth gradients. The result is an innovative pattern that maintains the essence of Leheriya whilst integrating well into high-performance sportswear.
The halftone dot approach adds a depth and texture, adding a dimension and tactility to the design that wouldn’t have been there with the use of smooth gradients.
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