Mudguard x N.E.C. Nijmegen: Creativity with heart
A WARM WELCOME IN NIJMEGEN
In May 2025, Mudguard joined forces with N.E.C. Nijmegen, guided by our contact Eva. From the very first moment, we felt the warmth of the club, a community-minded team with a big heart. The collaboration kicked off with two workshops in one day, held in the press room of the stadium. Both groups showed incredible energy, but especially the first, made up of students from practical education, couldn’t wait to start designing their own t-shirts. That’s what Community Champions is all about: inspiring youth to discover their own voice through creativity, showing them that everyone is capable of more than they think.
WINNER 1: SYRIA IN FULL BLOOM
One of the most powerful designs came from a girl who recently moved to the Netherlands from Syria. Her shirt displayed the map of her homeland, filled with vibrant flowers, and carried the text: “Syria is ready to reveal her true beauty.” For her, this was more than a design, it was a statement of pride, resilience, and hope. She wore it with confidence, showing that no matter your background, your story matters and deserves to be told. For us, this was the perfect example of what happens when creativity meets identity: fashion becomes a tool for empowerment.
WINNER 2: FAMILY PORTRAIT
The second winning design was a deeply personal one, a family portrait drawn in her own style. The power of this piece was in its intimacy. While we won’t share the details out of respect for the participant, the design spoke volumes. It was raw, honest, and carried a story that was both private and universal: family as the core of who you are. That strength, translated into a Mudguard tee, showed once again why these workshops matter. It’s not about art for art’s sake. It’s about giving people a platform to tell their truth.
LONG-TERM IMPACT
This collaboration with N.E.C. Nijmegen is only the beginning. By the end of 2025, Mudguard will return to continue this journey. Because for us, it’s never about one-off projects. It’s about long-term partnerships, inspiring youth, and unlocking creativity where people least expect it. As we’ve seen across all Community Champions projects, everyone is creative, some just don’t know it yet. That’s why we’re here. To guide, to inspire, and to prove that a story on a t-shirt can change the way you see yourself.
