BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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In a first-of-its-kind collaboration that bridges football, fashion, and fine art, KidSuper and Puma have teamed up for an electrifying release centered around the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This bold initiative–unveiled just days before the tournament kicks off at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium–sees artist and designer Colm Dillane reimagine traditional football gear into wearable masterpieces.
What makes this project revolutionary isn’t just the timing or scale–it’s that this is Puma’s first full performance drop involving both custom-designed kits and boots across seven globally recognized football clubs. The result is a highly expressive, color-drenched collection that captures the energy of the game, the culture of the clubs, and the chaotic brilliance of KidSuper’s imagination.
Colm Dillane, the Brooklyn-bred mastermind behind KidSuper, is no stranger to blending creative fields. A math major at NYU and a former varsity football player, Dillane has long considered football an art form, and this release puts that philosophy into practice with audacious flair. Having partnered with Puma since 2020, his creative influence has gradually grown, from sneaker collaborations to designing kits for English side Barnsley F.C. in 2023.
But the 2025 Club World Cup collab marks an apex. Dillane was given full creative control, allowed to build his vision from scratch, starting only with technical boot soles and blank jersey templates. His goal was clear: to defy conventions and produce gear that merges streetwear, self-expression, and sporting performance.
Every piece in the KidSuper x Puma drop tells a story, connecting players to fans, clubs to communities, and artistry to athleticism. The kits for participating clubs aren’t simply redesigned–they’re reinterpreted as canvases. Manchester City’s jersey reimagines their iconic sash, overlaying it with graffiti-style illustrations of the “Poznań” celebration. Palmeiras’ shirt pays homage to their 1951 Copa Rio Internacional victory with intricate baroque leaf patterns. Salzburg’s kit features alpine brushstrokes inspired by edelweiss blooms, while Mamelodi Sundowns’ jersey captures the spirit of their “shoeshine and piano” playing style, using a palette that mirrors Tshwane’s brilliant skies.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s tones echo the crescent moon in various shades of blue; Monterrey’s kit evokes Mexico’s rugged Sierra Madre mountains and flag colors through layered watercolor strokes; and Borussia Dortmund’s design relies on the club’s iconic yellow and black, adding a honeycomb-like motif for the goalkeeper kit.
The same daring artistry applies to the boots. Each of Puma’s three silos; Future, Ultra, and King, underwent a complete KidSuper revamp. These aren’t just performance boots–they’re statement pieces. Painted in vivid tones with handwritten-style texts, the boots feature the KidSuper Football Club badge and even Dillane’s New York studio address. Whether it’s the creative elasticity of the Future, the velocity-focused Ultra, or the control-centered King, each model retains its high-performance identity while doubling as visual art. For Dillane, these boots embody movement and expression–tools for storytelling as much as gameplay.
Sustainability plays a central role in the drop. All replica jerseys are made using Puma’s RE:FIBRE technology, a circular textile innovation that uses over 95% recycled materials from textile waste. In a broader context, this aligns with Puma’s expanding eco-conscious agenda, which includes plans to phase out kangaroo leather and embrace sustainable production across its supply chain. For a collab so rooted in creative chaos, it’s a remarkably focused move towards responsible design.
This release isn’t merely about dressing players; it’s about rethinking what football attire can represent. It’s about honoring club histories, championing local cultures, and affirming that fashion on the pitch can be as expressive and subversive as it is on the runway. The KidSuper x Puma FIFA Club World Cup collection doesn’t just outfit athletes–it reframes the entire spectacle of the tournament.
