“South Asian Heritage” is the theme of a new Vancouver Bandits logo and jersey designed by local artist Sandeep Johal.
Revealed on April 4, the jersey will debut during the Canadian Elite Basketball League team’s first-ever “South Asian Heritage” theme game, June 1 against Calgary Surge at Langley Events Centre (LEC).
“It’s a celebration of being South Asian,” Johal said of her jersey design. “It’s a celebration of our culture. It’s very vibrant. It’s very joyful. It’s very colourful and I bring that into my work a lot. I leaned into Phulkari, which is folk embroidery from Punjab.”
Johal’s art has been showcased at Surrey Art Gallery and other spaces in Metro Vancouver.
“When you see your culture being represented at such a grand scale, it makes you feel like you have the ability to be a part of that and that maybe this space is for you,” Johal said of her work for the Bandits. “I’m loving this shift, where we’re seeing organizations open up those spaces for all of us.”
Johal’s version of the Bandits’ logo champions a pink colour for the eye mask “to evoke a sense of energy and passion,” the team says. Central to her style is the use of the eye, which has been lengthened and defined to create a focal point. Further enhancing the reimagined logo is the incorporation of a paisley illustration, which takes its inspiration from a common pattern often seen in sari borders or different textiles.
The Bandits open their sixth season May 23 against Montreal Alliance at the LEC. This season the pro team will play 10 home games through July 18.