FC Bayern will wear special edition prints during the friendlies of their Asia tour in Jeju and Hong Kong, designed by two local artists. Here's the story behind them.
Special edition prints for summer tours are usually quick marketing fare: player names in local script, done. On their trip to Asia, FC Bayern are currently showing how much more the format can hold.
For the two friendlies in Jeju and Hong Kong, two local artists have designed exclusive special edition prints, developed in collaboration with HYPEBEAST and adidas, and both are small lessons in taking a culture seriously instead of merely quoting it.
Gime instead of Korea clichés: FC Bayern's special edition print for Jeju
For the match in Jeju, Korean artist Dohee Kwon deliberately decided against the usual Korea motifs. "I wanted to show something that truly belongs only to Jeju," she says. Her choice fell on "Gime," a traditional paper craft that exists exclusively on the island and is closely tied to shamanic rituals.
Building on that, Kwon designed a calm visual world with sun and moon motifs and graphic shapes reminiscent of the tradition's delicate paper cut-outs. "Once it was clear I'd be working with Gime, the rest of the design flowed naturally," she says. On Jeju, Gime stands for wishes of luck, health and the protection of ancestors, a meaning Kwon transfers directly to the team: "Through the design, I can express my own wishes for the Bayern players."
Zodiac and amulets: FC Bayern's special edition print for Hong Kong
Kristopher HO, who designed the print for the match at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, also passed on the obvious, no landmarks, no neon signs. "I wanted to avoid elements that have already been used heavily and instead bring something new to the table – something very local that often gets overlooked," says the Hong Kong artist.
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His inspiration: traditional lucky charms and amulets. The print shows flat, richly detailed illustrations, including the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and mythical celestial creatures such as dragons and phoenixes, symbols of luck and prosperity. "I hope the shirt becomes a lucky charm for the players, one that helps them fully connect with their surroundings," says HO.
What links both works: the ambition not to use local culture as a backdrop, but to give it a stage of its own, on the shirts of one of the biggest football clubs in the world. The special edition prints are only available on site, at the pop-up stores in Jeju and the FanTown and pop-up stores in Greater China.
