Rapha has unveiled its 2026 collection in collaboration with Team AMANI, the professional cycling squad based in Iten, Kenya.
The new collection and its accompanying campaign pay homage to East Africa’s cultural traditions, specifically its historic textiles and hand-woven crafts.
Founded in 2020, Team AMANI was established to address structural inequalities in global cycling, such as limited access to international races and high-performance infrastructure for African athletes. The team’s women’s squad, which recently secured a UCI Women’s Continental licence, has stated an ambition to compete in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift by 2028.
The design of the 2026 capsule is inspired by regional fabrics, including the Kanga of Kenya – a cotton wrap known for its bold borders and central motifs – and the Kuba cloth of the Congo, which is traditionally woven from raffia palm fibres and decorated with complex geometric patterns.
Key visual elements within the collection include:
- Adey Abeba: This eight-petalled yellow flower is a repeating pattern across the garments. It is an emblem of the Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash), symbolizing luck, blessing, and the end of the rainy season.
- Imigongo: A traditional Rwandan art form featuring distinctive geometric swirls and triangles. Originally created using cow dung to decorate royal houses, the patterns aim to represent life, continuity, and harmony.
- Intentional Irregularities: To honour the authenticity of hand-woven textiles, Rapha has included subtle irregularities in the patterns, reflecting the human touch found in traditional East African printing.
The new product campaign, shot by photographer Finley Newmark and styled by Kennedy Mirema, also features Sisal – a plant fibre common in Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia – and cowrie shells, which historically served as currency and a symbol of prestige across the continent.
The Rapha + Team AMANI 2026 collection is available now on the brand’s website and in select retail locations.
www.rapha.cc
www.teamamani.com
