Sept 17: What happens when one of India’s most followed sporting cultures enters the world of high fashion? A defining moment for cricket begins. PUMA India, long-standing kit partner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is bringing the franchise’s cultural fandom into a new space through a limited-edition collaboration with celebrated Indian designer Dhruv Kapoor.
In a first-of-its-kind move for Indian Premier League, PUMA and RCB are bringing a designer-led collection to Milan Fashion Week, with statement jackets by acclaimed Indian contemporary fashion designer Dhruv Kapoor debuting on September 22 as part of his Spring/Summer 2027 collection, Presence. The exclusive collection brings together PUMA’s sporting heritage, RCB’s cultural force and Dhruv Kapoor’s disruptive design language. Kapoor has re-engineered existing PUMA products through his creative lens, exploring contrasts between cultural memory and contemporary systems, handcrafted detail and technical construction – taking the codes of India’s cricket culture onto the global fashion stage.The Milan showcase marks the first chapter of the PUMA × RCB × Dhruv Kapoor collection, with a larger collection set to launch for fans ahead of the 2027 IPL season in March.
For PUMA × RCB, this move builds on a six-year strong partnership built around taking fandom beyond stadiums. From team jerseys to athleisure, the partnership has given fans new ways to wear their allegiance, with design becoming as much a part of the conversation as the game itself.PUMA’s latest collaboration with Dhruv Kapoor brings RCB’s sporting identity into a more elevated fashion space. Kapoor, as Indian’s leading designer brings a distinctive perspective to sport, using his signature approach to construction. The resulting collector’s edition jackets bring sport and fashion together in pieces designed to move beyond the game.
Speaking on the collaboration, Ram Sridharan, Managing Director, PUMA India said, “Cricket is India’s greatest sporting love. It is deeply woven into our culture and influences how people connect, celebrate and express themselves. Over the last six years, PUMA and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have consistently built on that passion, taking fandom beyond the stadium and creating new ways for supporters to wear their team identity.
Today, athleisure comprises nearly 40% of our overall RCB merchandise, which shows how successfully that expression has moved into everyday style. We have raised the bar season after season, and our Dhruv Kapoor collection marks yet another first in that journey. Taking RCB to Milan Fashion Week through his signature design language gives this incredible fandom a new fashion expression on a global stage, while continuing to push the boundaries of where sport, fashion and culture can meet.”
Rajesh V Menon, CEO of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said, “RCB has always looked at fandom as something that extends well beyond the game. We were early movers in building a strong jersey culture in India and, together with PUMA, have continued to expand that into lifestyle and athleisure at scale. We believe the time is now right to take the next step and explore the world of high fashion. Collaborating with PUMA and Dhruv Kapoor allows us to reimagine RCB’s sporting identity through a contemporary couture lens, while taking the culture of Indian cricket to a global fashion stage. Debuting at Milan Fashion Week is an exciting first chapter, and we look forward to building on it with a wider collection for fans in 2027.”
Dhruv Kapoor said, “RCB and PUMA both carry codes that people already recognise through sport, fandom and memory. For me, the collaboration was about reworking those familiar codes through the Dhruv Kapoor language, and shifting performance pieces into objects of craft, construction and identity.”The statement jackets showcased at Milan Fashion Week will soon be available on PUMA.com, at select PUMA stores, and through select Dhruv Kapoor stores and online channels.