It had been 52 years. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s return to the World Cup had to be in style.

When the Congolese national team landed in Houston last week—their first appearance at the tournament since a disappointing run in 1974—they did so not in a big luxury house brand or carrying the latest it-bags, but dressed in the designs of 30-year-old Congo-born, Paris-based designer Alvin Mak. Images of the squad touching down in Texas, clad in sharply tailored black suits adorned with silver leopard brooches, animal-print paneling, and matching star-shaped bags, quickly captivated social media.

And yesterday, the DR Congo team made history. Yoane Wissa scored the nation’s first-ever World Cup goal, equalizing against Portugal in a 1–1 draw. The team will face Colombia next week.

Mak was there to witness the moment, seated among a relatively small but passionate section of Congolese supporters, many of them expats. Attendance from Congo was significantly limited by the country’s ongoing Ebola outbreak, which required travelers—including members of the national squad and staff—to observe quarantine measures. It’s Mak’s first time in the United States, and he wore one of his own leopard-print shirts and feline brooches.

The country’s ongoing conflict and outbreak were never far from his mind. “In recent years, when people speak about Congo, they often focus on war, violence, or diseases like Ebola,” says Mak, who moved to Paris from Congo at age 11. “While these realities exist, they do not define our culture. My desire was to change the image and perception of my country through my art, to showcase and promote Congolese culture, artisanal skills, and also contribute to job creation in Congo.” Producing 55 suits for players and coaching staff proved a considerable undertaking for Mak’s core team of three in Paris, enlisting artisans and craftspeople in Congo to help execute the project.

Despite knowing the Congolese have a serious level of steeze, the response has exceeded even his own expectations. “I’m receiving messages, emails, and calls from everywhere—Australia, the United States, Brazil, Africa, Europe—truly from all over the world,” he says. “This global appreciation makes me extremely proud. It represents the culmination of many years of hard work and resilience while also shining a light on my country, my culture, and our expertise.”

Dubbed the “Moniama” suit, the design is cut from silk crepe and features a double-breasted, single-button front, sharply sloped shoulders, and a softly sculpted waist. Mak’s signature trompe-l’oeil collar and a leopard-print velvet panel bring together cultural symbolism and technical tailoring. To complete the look, he designed a star-shaped bag intended to represent Congo’s ambitions at the tournament. The piece incorporates handwoven mats crafted by African artisans, transforming traditional techniques into a contemporary geometric object.

Today, Mak tells Vogue that he has opened orders for both the suits and matching bags through the brand’s website. He has already received more than 100 orders.

The World Cup wardrobe draws deeply from Congolese cultural references. Central to the collection is the leopard print, a motif with profound symbolic meaning throughout the country. “The leopard is the emblematic and totem animal of Congo,” Mak explains. “Across institutions, ethnic groups, and many villages, it symbolizes power, resilience, fighting spirit, bravery, and honor.”

The tailoring also nods to La Sape—short for Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes (Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People)—the Congolese fashion movement celebrated for its impeccable tailoring and vibrant palette. Long regarded as an expression of both aspiration and identity, La Sape offered a framework Mak sought to reinterpret for a new generation of athletes. “It reflects a mindset of ambition and self-expression, which strongly inspired me and which I wanted to convey,” he says.

Mak never attended fashion school, instead teaching himself through YouTube tutorials. Before launching his own creative practice nearly a decade ago, he worked in sales for both luxury and contemporary fashion brands. He first designed looks for the Congo team’s appearance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, including a leopard-print shirt with braided shoulders. Ahead of the World Cup, he approached Congo’s Ministry of Sports with a proposal for an entirely new wardrobe. What followed was a lengthy process involving multiple fittings and alterations as players prepared for the tournament.

“I want to showcase our vision, our expertise, La Sape, the leopard, and our spirit.” DRC does not recognize dual citizenship, which has only amplified Make’s want to champion both his Congolese and French identities through his work.

The designer’s connection to the team is also deeply personal. Football has been part of his life since childhood, and he once dreamed of becoming a professional player before an injury ended those ambitions. Through this collaboration, he says, he has found another way to participate in the game he loves. “Football has always remained part of my life,” he says. “Through this project, I feel like I am living part of that dream.”

Mak traveled independently to Houston to witness Congo’s first World Cup match. “After 52 years, playing in the World Cup in the United States is a true honor,” he says. The trip also provided an opportunity to reconnect with members of the squad, whom he had met several times throughout the project. Following the final whistle, he was on FaceTime with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

As for what comes next, Mak plans to continue working with the Congolese national team and is already fielding inquiries from clubs and national federations interested in similar collaborations. Tomorrow, he will leave Houston for Los Angeles to pursue another opportunity generated by the project’s viral success before returning to his studio in Paris’s 1st arrondissement to manage a growing volume of orders. The brand hopes to expand its Paris-based team while keeping “80% or so” of its artisanal production in Congo.

Meanwhile, Mak’s namesake label is preparing for its most ambitious milestone yet: a debut runway show during Paris Fashion Week in January 2027.

“It will be my very first show,” he says. “And we want it to be truly memorable.”