Usually in sports, players wear names and numbers on their jerseys for the purposes of identification. Sometimes these numbers are imbued with deeper personal meaning — the death of a relative on a certain day, a lucky number, a superstition — but usually they are mere identifiers.
But the Swedish women’s soccer team has scrapped the names and numbers in favor of something more meaningful. Teaming up with Adidas and Edelman Deportivo, the women’s national football team has designed specialty jerseys that feature inspirational tweets on the backs.
“Believe in your damn self,” one shirt reads, accompanied by the Twitter handle of Zara Larsson, a Swedish pop singer.
“I’m not bossy, I’m the boss,” says another.
The initiative aims to give voice to women everywhere, and is accompanied by the hashtag campaign, #InYourName.
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"Through #InYourName and together with other women, we want to express this message and encourage women to believe that they can do anything they set their mind to, and that they can also do so through teamwork,” team captain Lotta Schelin said.
Schelin’s own jersey features a powerful quote from Gudrun Schyman, the founder of the Feminist Initiative party.
"Never look down on someone unless you're helping her up," it reads in Swedish.
Never look down on someone unless you're helping her up. #IDittNamn#Adidas#SweWNT@gudschypic.twitter.com/T9sfZbszXB
— Lotta Schelin (@L8schelin) February 28, 2017
Sweden is one of the most progressive countries in the world when it comes to political representation (and many other measures of gender equality). According to the official site of Sweden, 43% of the country’s parliamentary seats were held by women after the 2014 election.
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Here are some of the other powerful messages the national team’s jerseys featured:
Olivia Schough: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”
Be kind. Always. Annars är du en DRITTSEKK!!! #IDittNamn#Adidas#SweWNTpic.twitter.com/0vuPiugikv
— Olivia Schough (@oliviaschough) February 28, 2017
Fridalina Rolfo:
“I believe women can do anything they decide to.”
Magdalena Erikson:
“I am playing for my girls in Iran.”
Jag har valt att lyfta ett citat från @agnes_lo_ eftersom att jag spelar fotboll för alla de som inte kan. Eller får. #IDittNamnpic.twitter.com/4coFpE3Thi
— Magdalena Eriksson (@MagdaEricsson) February 28, 2017