Pakistani streetwear brand Rastah has launched a handcrafted football ahead of its pop-up showcase in New York City. The new accessory serves as a tribute to Sialkot’s manufacturing sector, which produces millions of match balls for FIFA tournaments.
The design team described the creation as “one of the most technically demanding pieces we’ve ever made.” The project began three weeks ago when the team asked, “What if we made a football entirely by hand?”
The ball incorporates regional textile methods including ajrak block printing, hand embroidery and embellishments. The final construction features distinct fabrics, brocades and pearl embroidery running along the fabric borders.
Sialkot began exporting footballs to international markets in the 1950s and currently manufactures match balls for Adidas. According to the brand, the project aims to highlight the Pakistani craftspeople behind these global sporting events who “are rarely part of the story.”
The label noted that the initiative acknowledges “a country whose manufacturing excellence has quietly shaped the world’s biggest sporting moments.”
The brand stated that the project is rooted in the philosophy that “tradition doesn’t belong behind glass; it can evolve, experiment and become something entirely new.” The brand also credited its own “artisans who continue to preserve centuries-old techniques.”
Rastah previously became the first Pakistani label to showcase at London Fashion Week. Its designs have been worn by A-lister celebrities including Justin Bieber and Timothée Chalamet.
