This article explores how UP Warriorz, the Uttar Pradesh franchise in the Women’s Premier League, has collaborated with Ekaya Banaras to create a new playing jersey titled 'A Blooming Rebellion'. Unveiled in Mumbai on January 7, the jersey brings Banarasi floral motifs and weaving traditions into a contemporary performance kit, marking Ekaya’s first foray into women’s cricket apparel.
UP Warriorz is the Uttar Pradesh–based franchise competing in India’s Women’s Premier League, one of the country’s premier platforms for women’s professional cricket. Since its inception, the team has represented the state on a national stage, bringing together players from across India and overseas while steadily shaping a public identity rooted in regional pride. On January 7, the franchise unveiled its new playing jersey in Mumbai, introducing a design created in collaboration with Ekaya Banaras, India’s first luxury handloom brand.The jersey has been designed in collaboration with Ekaya Banaras, India’s first luxury handloom brand.
The collaboration marks Ekaya’s first engagement with women’s cricket apparel which comes on board as the team’s official design partner. Titled 'A Blooming Rebellion', the jersey draws from floral motifs commonly found in Banarasi textiles. In the region’s weaving history, floral patterns recur across generations and are closely tied to ideas of continuity and renewal. These references have been adapted for a playing kit, and reinterpreted through a contemporary, performance-focused sporting design.
“UP Warriorz was created with the belief that when women step forward, they don’t just play sport, they shape culture. This jersey is an extension of that belief. Our collaboration with Ekaya brings together Banarasi heritage and modern ambition, creating a playing kit that carries meaning beyond the field. It represents the pride of Uttar Pradesh, the strength of its women, and a future where tradition and progress coexist, confidently and visibly.”Jinisha Sharma, Director, Capri Sports
For UP Warriorz, the design reflects the franchise’s ongoing effort to anchor its presence in regional context. Representing Uttar Pradesh — a state with deep craft histories and cultural legacies — the team has consistently looked to embed local references into how it presents itself. The jersey extends this approach, linking the franchise’s matchwear to a craft tradition that has long defined the region’s identity.
As the team takes the field through the season, the jersey becomes part of how women athletes are seen in a sport that continues to expand its audience and infrastructure. Each appearance carries visibility for women’s cricket, particularly for younger viewers across Uttar Pradesh who increasingly see professional sport as an accessible path. The kit operates within this everyday visibility, worn across matches instead of being reserved for symbolic moments.
Ekaya’s role in the collaboration follows a similar trajectory. With a 120-year-old Banarasi legacy, the brand has built its identity around reworking handloom practices for contemporary contexts. Ekaya is also a women-led house within a craft ecosystem that has historically been dominated by men. Its work has focused on keeping weaving practices active and relevant by placing them in present-day spaces rather than confining them to ceremonial use.
"In a craft ecosystem traditionally owned, woven, and traded by men, we chose to build a house that is represented, led, and worn by women. Cricket, too, has long been seen as a gentleman’s sport. So when the opportunity came to create for a women’s cricket team carving their own place within it, the decision felt instinctive. I think this collaboration comes from a shared belief in changing perspectives, uplifting women, and reimagining what legacy craft can stand for today."Palak Shah, Founder and CEO - Ekaya
The UP Warriorz x Ekaya jersey will be worn by the team through the upcoming season, placing Banarasi craft references into match play and extending the presence of handloom traditions into the legacy of professional women’s cricket. The collaboration positions the jersey as a marker of aspiration, regional pride, and women shaping narratives both on and off the field.
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