With the ICC World Cup 2023 going on in full swing, millions of cricket fans are fixed to their television screens. And not only watching the matches but also being patiently part of every minute detail concerning them. Thus, for those cricket lovers, here we have the details of the Indian jersey featuring some unmissable design elements. The Indian team's jersey was designed by ace designer, Aaquib Wani, who has also designed the sets at one of the pre-wedding ceremonies of Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani, and other games, including Asian Games, Rajasthan Royals IPL jerseys and others.
Before jumping into Aaquib Wani's design elements in the Indian team's jersey for the ICC World Cup 2023, let's take a brief look at his journey from scratch. In an interview with Brut, Aaquib narrated how his journey started when he failed his 11th standard exam and started walking on the path of art. He calls himself a '12th pass' and a self-taught 'experiential designer'. In his words:
"My journey started when I failed in my 11 standard. Padhai ke alwa sab cheejo mein maja ata tha. I would always excel in my art class. And that would always help me to, sort of, known for a fact that you know, even if I fail, there is something to fall back upon. Then, I became a self-taught 'experiental designer'. And by that mean, we design experiences, weddings, interiors and also brands."
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Aaquib's family hails from Kashmir, but he was born and brought up in Delhi. He was introduced to art in his initial days as his father had a shop selling Kashmiri handicrafts in Delhi. Later, when he joined a band to make a career in music, he started creating art for his own band. Getting inspired by his work, other bands also gave him work, and that is how he began making artwork professionally. In the same conversation, he shared:
"This goes back to six years old of me. My dad had hid business, which was to deal in Kashmiri handicrafts. And while these artisans would come over you know and I knew for a fact that they were self-taught as well. And that sort of always remained with me. That, to me, I think, was my first interaction with art to be honest. I started drawing when I was seven years old. Growing up, music drew me in and I joined a band. I ended up becoming a designer because for my own band, I wanted to create artwork. Other bands also, sort of, saw my work and they were like, 'You know what, Aaquib? Your work looks great. How about you get some work done for us as well?' And slowly and steadily, sort of, you know, made a little mark for my own self. And soon enough, got a job at a music magazine."
Afterwards, Aaquib started his studio, Aaquib Wani Design, in 2018. The same year, he got an opportunity to design a bazaar-themed setup for Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal's sangeet ceremony in 2018. He explained how, initially, he was curious about why someone would like such a kind of setup. Afterwards, he mentioned that when he got to know for whom he was working, he was absolutely mesmerised. He added:
"I was like, 'Bazaar? Shaadi ke liye? Kya ho raha hai? Log shadio mein khana khane aatein hai, dance karte hai ghar chale jaate hai, mazein karte hai. ye bazaar kaha se chipka diya inn sab ke beech mein? When I sent those designs, I got a call 10 days later saying, 'Listen, your desins been approved.' And this is when I asked, 'Bhai, ye hai kaun? Kiske liye kaam ho raha hai?' And that's when they told me, 'This is the Ambanis we're talking about'."
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Not only that, after giving a wonderful piece of work at Isha Ambani's wedding, the following year, in 2019, he got an invitation to design a set for Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta's wedding as well. Talking about his other professional friends, one look at his IG handle and anyone could get an array of his moments with eminent names in the industry. Indeed, the credit goes to his work, for which Aaquib was also featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021.
In 2023, Aaquib along with other artists at his studio, designed jerseys for the India participants at the Asian Games and ICC World Cup 2023. He also revealed designing the jerseys for the Rajasthan Royals IPL team. Opening up about his achievement, he mentioned how he could have never imagined reaching such a place in his life. He stated:
"This year, we also did the Indian cricket team jerseys, then we also did the Asian Games. And that's across men and women both. I remember looking out the window and tears rolling out of my eyes purely because how emotional it was, purely because of how big of an opportunity it was. And if you would ask a 13-year-old Aaquib, 'how you would feel' it would have been an impossible thing to really describe because I would have never imagined for me to be at a place like this where you'd be representing you'll be designing for the Indian National Team."
Aaquib Wani's designed Indian team's jerseys for the ICC World Cup 2023 feature the royal colour blue along with the ikat print. Moreover, according to him, it has the national animal, the Tiger, as a symbolic addition to it. Well, popular cricketers of the Indian team, donning Aaquib's designed jerseys, are indeed making it a worth-mentioning topic of discussion in the field of cricket.
Well, we are simply in love with Aaquib's journey from a self-taught 'experiential designer' to designing such beautiful jerseys for the Indian teams at International matches. What about you? Let us know!
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