MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� It鈥檚 no coincidence that Hugo Rosas鈥� jersey designs ahead of the resemble some of Mexico’s most iconic decorations. His work fuses soccer and Mexican identity to showcase his country鈥檚 culture beyond its borders.
His latest collection is called 鈥淐alados del Alma鈥� or 鈥淐utouts of the Soul.鈥� It draws inspiration from ancient Mexican and , the delicate cut-paper ornaments commonly used during local celebrations and .
鈥淲e try to create concepts that resonate with us and convey traditions that make Mexicans feel proud,鈥� said Rosas, who has run a workshop with his brother Andr茅s near Mexico City since 2022. 鈥淭he country鈥檚 best is reflected in papel picado, colors and town celebrations.鈥�
The first jersey sketched by the brothers portrayed Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent revered by several civilizations. That garment remains Andr茅s鈥� favorite to date.
鈥淨uetzalcoatl represents a balance that sees the world as a system, not as something extractive that human beings can simply benefit from,鈥� said Andr茅s, who oversees the brand鈥檚 marketing. 鈥淚 connect with that pre-Hispanic , which is why most of our products are deeply rooted in that vision.鈥�
Ancient beliefs, modern jerseys
Hugo鈥檚 World Cup collection builds on an earlier set of designs he called 鈥淥frenda Viva,鈥� or 鈥淟ive Offering.鈥�
Its aesthetics and concept are rooted in Mexico鈥檚 鈥� that the living and honor their dearly departed with instead of sorrow.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a garment resembling papel picado so that a person can offer their actions, thoughts and passions as an homage to those who are already gone,鈥� Rosas said.
The jerseys are made of polyester so the fabric can be cut like papel picado without becoming vulnerable to tears or rips. Rosas and his team once experimented with natural fibers, but the material could not withstand the weight and structure required after production.
Designing each jersey can take up to three weeks, while sewing and cutting requires between eight and 10 hours of work.
Rosas鈥� first step is deciding the symbols he wishes to depict. He then determines the size and shape of each figure so the stitching aligns with his vision. Once a design is ready, the team鈥檚 seamstresses patiently cut and sew each piece of clothing.
A modern armor
The Rosas brothers operate on a modest scale and are proud of that approach. They value the care and time devoted to each jersey, keeping the process as artisanal as possible.
Since the World Cup garments went on sale in April, their Mexclart brand has crafted about 30 jerseys. Hugo Rosas expects demand to increase as the opening ceremony approaches.
Among his other collections is one devoted to pre-Hispanic gods. His favorite portrays Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec ruler of the , who is often depicted in skeletal form.
鈥淧utting on a garment like this is like wearing a modern armor through which we can carry that pride and passion for our roots and show it to the world,鈥� Rosas said.
He sometimes turns to books about Mexico鈥檚 history while developing his designs. However, the source of inspiration he enjoys the most is traveling to Indigenous communities where ancient ceremonies and customs remain alive.
鈥淚f it were up to me, I鈥檇 use gold or another material that could accurately represent our gods the way our ancestors did,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ll the garments we create are meant to give Mexicans the chance to bring those deities into the present.鈥�
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