The arrival of Fofana’s art-slash-sportswear also comes just days before a French election which could result in the far-right winning power. Fearful of more terrorist attacks, meanwhile, much of central Paris will be closed off during the Olympics, keeping Parisian residents on edge. Sporting events are widely paraded as being able to bring people together, so perhaps it is safe to read this robe as an attempt by Fofana, who describes himself as a black African Muslim, to break down barriers through the universal language of football.