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Inside the Craft 1: Raval Football on Designing Identity-Driven Jerseys for Local Clubs
For the first edition of Inside the Craft, Birdiefootball steps into the world of jersey designs with a visit to Raval Football a Berlin based creative studio in the heart of Kreuzberg.
At a time when many teams rely on templated designs from major brands, the studio is taking a different route: working closely with local clubs to develop jerseys that actually reflect their story, colours and culture.
Designing for Identity, Not Just a Kit
Behind Ravalfootball are founders Fred and David, longtime friends who have been building the project around one central idea on helping grassroot teams access the kind of thoughtful jersey design usually reserved for professional teams.
Their mission is simple: give local clubs the opportunity to wear something unique.
Rather than using generic templates, the duo focuses on creating jerseys that connect with each club’s history and identity. Many of their designs draw inspiration from football’s rich visual past, particularly classic shirts from the 1980s and 1990s, an era when kits often carried bold personality.
“We look a lot at football history,” David explained. “But we don’t want to copy designs. We try to reinterpret them in a way that still feels connected to the club.”
Designing Baller League UK & Germany Jerseys.
Lukas Podolski Special Jersey
Craft and Production
Quality sits at the center of their process. RavalFootball jerseys are produced in Portugal under fair working conditions, with a focus on ethical manufacturing and sustainability.
The brand also experiments with materials that go beyond standard football kits. Some jerseys feature custom Jacquard fabrics, allowing subtle patterns and textures to be woven directly into the shirt instead of printed on top.
The result is a more refined, minimal look something that sits comfortably between performance wear and lifestyle apparel.
Inspired by Local Football Culture
For Fred, local football culture plays a huge role in what they do. During the conversation, he spoke about his appreciation for grassroots clubs, especially in cities like Berlin where small teams often carry fascinating histories and unique identities.
From unusual club names to vibrant community stories, these clubs offer the kind of creative starting point that inspires their design approach.
“There are so many cool stories in local football,” he said. “Those stories deserve jerseys that represent them.”
Upcoming Project: Introducing Ravelinho
Beyond designing kits for clubs, the duo is also launching a social project called Ravelinho, aimed at introducing kids to the world of football design.
Through the initiative, children will have the chance to step into the role of a jersey designer, creating their own kits from scratch. What makes the project particularly special is that the designs won’t just remain sketches. Each selected jersey will actually be produced.
The program blends creativity with education, while also highlighting the importance of sustainable production. Just like RavalFootball’s main line, the kids’ jerseys will also be manufactured in Portugal under fair labour conditions.
Rethinking the Future of Local Club Kits
Another interesting part of the conversation touched on the broader visual identity of grassroots clubs. Fred believes many teams could benefit from rethinking how they present themselves from logos and colours to kit design.
With retro football aesthetics trending across the sport, he sees an opportunity for local clubs to embrace a new wave of creativity.
“The 80s and 90s designs are coming back,” David added. “It shows people want jerseys with character again.”Fred expresses his wish for a big rebranding wave of local clubs in Germany, suggesting they need to update their logos, colors, and identity.
What RavalFootball is building sits somewhere between football tradition and modern design thinking. Their work isn’t just about producing kits it’s about helping clubs express who they are.
And in a football culture increasingly interested in storytelling, identity and aesthetics, projects like this feel more relevant than ever.
Full interview will be on our social channels, follow us to stay updated.
Inside the Craft is Birdiefootball’s new series exploring the people, studios and spaces shaping football culture beyond the pitch. See you in the next one.
