RSCA x Mosaert: A celebration of la Belgitude

How did you find each other?

• L. We have been in contact with Anderlecht for a year or two. We don’t really stem from a footballing family; Paul and I were much more into the NBA. But we are Bruxellois and are very aware of what Anderlecht means culturally. Personally, I also lived in Anderlecht for 10 years. We immediately felt a mutual desire to work together. We have an appetite to create in environments that we’re discovering as we go along. That’s why, in the past, we even ventured to make an electric car with Mini. The collaboration with Anderlecht fits in that mold.

A Stromae mix of Grand Jojo’s club anthem Anderlecht Champion. That was a surprise.

• L. I understand (smiles). The anthem is not what we usually would listen to at home, but it is interesting. It’s made by this local legend, and it precedes every game in the stadium. All the fans sing it as one. Especially the chorus is part of the collective consciousness, even internationally. Although there the ‘Allez Allez Allez’ has turned into ‘Olé Olé Olé'.
• After we went to a game, Paul mentioned that it could be cool to make a remix of it. It was very spontaneous. There was no master plan behind it; we just thought we’d give it a try.

Football fans are very particular about their colors. Did you feel like you had to be careful?

• L. We had to be careful not to do something stupid. We went into this with the humility to know that it’s an environment we don’t know that well. We had to try to understand the club’s culture. What is important for Anderlecht and for the fans? For instance, the badge on the front of the shirt. We might have had some ideas to play with that. But maybe that wouldn’t go down too well with the fan base. It’s a very sensitive matter. For all those things, the team at Anderlecht was our guiding light. They held us by the hand and said, ‘This is great; this might be a bit too far.’

This collab feels like it's about more than just football, but also about Brussels, pop culture, and lifestyle. Was that the way you approached it?

• L. We’re telling stories about Anderlecht and much more. We’re talking about Brussels, the city we’re proud of, and about a lifestyle. This is reflected in the jerseys we launched together. They’re not just worn by the people who go to the stadium on Sundays, tu vois?
• We wanted to celebrate the club in an extremely inclusive way. What does Anderlecht reflect on Brussels and Belgium? It's a jubilation of la Belgitude via images, fashion, music, dance…

What does la Belgitude mean for Mosaert?

• L. It’s odd that this feels like a difficult question. (pauses) For me, it feels self-explanatory, but I guess it isn’t. I would call la Belgitude a feeling of pride and love for what sets us apart from the rest of the world without being divisive, chauvinistic, or ultranationalistic. It’s a mix of the artistic, the humorous, and the surreal. The Grand Jojo anthem, the cornerstone of this campaign, is a good example. It’s this ultra-weird, almost surrealistic piece by a local artist, and the tune has traveled the world. It’s so bizarre.
• This Belgitude is critical for us. We love Belgium; it’s home. We work on an international scale, but we do it all from here. On est hyper fier.

The collaboration lasts for the rest of this football season. What’s to come?

• L. The launch was the most important part. Now we continue our mission for the rest of the season. That’s quite new for us. We’re used to doing one-off collabs. We will be guiding the artistic direction and consulting on the graphic aspects of all the communication. And in September there will be a tribute night at Lotto Park. More details? No, not just yet (smiles).