They say it takes 10,000 hours to master a craft, but for the artisans of Naupan, Mexico, perfecting their craft is a matter of generations.
adidas dropped its new third kit for El Tri in the run-up to the World Cup, and a sleek Originals capsule was quick to follow. Created in collaboration with Mexican social impact label Someone Somewhere, the collection features seven pieces with hand-embroidered detailing, each carrying the beauty of team pride, culture and most importantly, the hands of its makers.
To bring the collection to life, the duo partnered with over 150 women from Naupan, a municipality in Puebla’s mountainous Sierra Norte region globally known for its artisanal excellence. The lineup merges Mexican textile heritage with contemporary football culture through various embroidered embellishments: reworks of the Trefoil logo, Mexico National Team crest, abstract fireworks and floral motifs adorning the stripes across the shoulders.
“When I feel very proud when I embroider,” said Catalina Secundino Pérez. For the Los Angeles stop of Mexico’s U.S. tour, adidas invited a group of creators, designers and stylists from across the city to participate in an intimate embroidery workshop led by Catalina and her sister, Petra Secundino Pérez, two of the artisans behind the collection, offering just a glimpse into the skill, patience and care that went into every stitch.
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In Naupan, embroidery is more than mere decoration, but a way to preserve identity, memory and knowledge, perfected and passed down through generations. “We come from a community where every woman wears what they embroider,” explained Petra, tracing the vibrant, multi-layered ensemble — base blouse, lace quechquemitl and belt — she created freehand.
“On the one hand, these textile traditions are beautiful,” says Catalina, “but it’s also a way for us to bring more possibilities to our family and support their livelihoods.” Leaders within their own communities, Petra and Catalina helm Mujeres Unidas Chakalxochitl, the collective that hand-stitched the El Tri collection. What began as a gathering of sisters over the last few years has blossomed into an over-300 artisan network across Mexico, using embroidery not just as an ancestral art form, but a means of economic autonomy for Nahua women.
The collection’s also making game history as the first limited-edition release of a Mexican artisan-made garment, bringing Indigenous craftsmanship to the world’s largest football stage. Last month, Catalina and Petra placed the third kit jersey in the adidas Archive in Germany, cementing the kit’s — and their own — place in sports history.
“For me, it’s very beautiful to embroider,” added Petra. “Every time I do it, it’s like giving a little bit of love to the ones that taught me how.”
The full Mexico National Team Third Kit Collection is available now through adidas and select retailers. Head to adidas’ website to check it out.
