Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York, attended Eid al-Adha prayers in the Bronx on Wednesday wearing a custom-made kurta crafted from Arsenal's 2025-26 away kit. The garment, a long tunic originating from South Asia, was supplied by Jason Andrew, co-founder of the Brooklyn Invincibles Arsenal supporters club. Andrew had just five days to create the piece, sourcing shirts through his connections and dispatching them to his tailor with his mother's guidance.
Reactions to the Kurta
Images of Mamdani in the kurta were widely shared on social media, eliciting mixed responses. On Diet Paratha, an Instagram account focusing on South Asian culture and fashion, one user joked, "Bro noooo how's my Eid fit supposed to compete with this?" Meanwhile, on fashion site Highsnobiety, a comment read: "When I thought I couldn't hate this guy any more." On Versus, a football style platform, another wrote: "Even this Chelsea fan knows how cold this is."
Significance of the Outfit
Dr. Fatima Rajina, a senior fellow at De Montfort University, noted that negative reactions may stem from Mamdani's refusal to hide his faith in public office. "He's the first Muslim mayor of the most multicultural city in the world," she said. "He's disrupting a lot of things, socially, culturally, politically." Arsenal's diverse fanbase aligns with Mamdani's inclusive vision for New York.
Faris Gohir, co-founder of Arsenal Muslim Gooners, said the image "brought faith, culture and football together in one image. Muslim football supporters often feel invisible, so a globally recognised Muslim Arsenal supporter has certainly put us in the spotlight."
Future Possibilities
Aaliyah Gohir suggested that Mamdani's kurta could inspire Arsenal-branded thobes and hijabs, noting that female fans are already using AI to design Arsenal abayas. "A Muslim-inspired range would feel like a natural next step," she said.
