As part of the launch of Mexico’s third kit for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adidas teamed up with Someone Somewhere for a six-piece collection handcrafted by Indigenous women of Sierra Norte de Puebla, highlighting the work of rural artisans from the community of Naupan.
Two of the artisans involved in the project, Petra and Catalina, made the trip to adidas’ headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where the third jersey of the Mexico national football team was officially added to the adidas Archive — marking the first handcrafted federation piece to enter the archive’s collection.
More than a football jersey, the piece symbolizes a broader cultural milestone — one where Mexican craftsmanship, heritage, and textile traditions are elevated onto a global stage through the lens of sport. The jersey merges contemporary athletic performance with centuries-old artisanal techniques, creating a project rooted equally in innovation and cultural preservation.
The adidas Archive houses some of the most historically significant artifacts in sportswear history, including official FIFA World Cup final match balls, archival national team kits, and early adidas footwear featuring the brand’s signature Three Stripes. Within a space traditionally centered around performance innovation and technical design, the inclusion of a handcrafted jersey introduces a completely different perspective — one focused on craftsmanship, storytelling, and the human touch behind each piece. The embroidered details created by the artisans of Naupan stand in contrast to the industrial precision typically associated with modern sportswear, reinforcing how heritage techniques can exist alongside contemporary design rather than outside of it.
That contrast is what makes this moment significant. Rather than treating Indigenous craftsmanship as separate from modern sports culture, the project places it directly within one of the most important archives in sportswear history. The result is a rare convergence of global football, contemporary design, and traditional artisan work, highlighting the growing effort to preserve cultural practices by giving them visibility on an international stage.
“This moment represents an opening in our history,” says Pablo Cavallaro, Senior Director of Brand Activation at adidas Mexico. “The Archive not only safeguards products, but also stories that make them meaningful. To integrate a piece like the third jersey of the Mexican National Team, is to recognize that innovation also lives in tradition.”
Antonio Nuño, CEO and co-founder of Someone Somewhere, adds: “For the artisans, this meeting symbolizes that their mastery transcends contexts and borders to dialogue with the world. It is the validation that what is born from expert hands in an indigenous community, can have and deserves a place on the most prestigious stages in the world.”
Check out photos from Petra and Catalina’s visit to the adidas Archive below. The Someone Somewhere x adidas Mexico collection is available now on the adidas website and at select retailers.
