Black and white portrait of an East Asian male model wearing layered sportswear and light trousers against a dark backdrop.

Young male model wearing a grey blazer over a red top leaning against a blue tiled wall with a soccer ball

Lekan Bakare posing outdoors in black shorts and green striped knee-high socks while pouring water over his head.

East Asian male model posing inside a soccer goal net holding soccer balls, wearing a black jacket and grey sweatpants.

Model standing in a grassy field wearing a yellow soccer jersey, a skirt made of black coin purses, and holding a soccer ball.

Model posing dynamically against a street bollard wearing a red cropped sweatshirt, patterned shorts, and black gloves.

Man in a sheer red-orange shirt and brown trousers balancing a soccer ball on his head in front of a black iron gate.

Close-up black and white portrait of a model holding a whistle to their lips, wearing a pearl choker and athletic jersey.

Model Lekan Bakare seated sideways in an armchair by classical stone columns, wearing a green track jacket and knee-high green socks.

An East Asian male model holding a soccer ball while wearing a dark t-shirt and wide-leg baggy trousers in black and white.

A Black man in tan trousers lies on a green grass field, looking up at a soccer ball suspended in the air.

Four fashion models in mixed sportswear and tailored garments pose under a tree with soccer balls and a park bench in black and white.

East Asian man in a checkered shirt, yellow tie, and black track pants holding a soccer ball against a pale studio backdrop.

Close-up of a model wearing a tight textured red top and dark trousers holding a soccer ball against blue tiles.

Model leaning against a street pole holding a soccer ball on a sunlit city street in black and white.

Three young men walking across a city street crosswalk holding soccer balls in a black and white editorial photograph.

Esquire China Local Heroes 2026

About

For Esquire China, Local Heroes presents a compelling fusion of sport and high-fashion editorial. The campaign transcends traditional boundaries, repositioning athletic performance gear through a lens of curated complexity. Photographer Xiuyu Chang captures a series of dynamic portraits that juxtapose the grit of urban environments—from paved city crosswalks and rusted gates to structured parking garages—against the soft, rhythmic interplay of natural light. Fashion editor and stylist Wei Mao masterfully integrates disparate textures, pairing utilitarian soccer jerseys and performance footwear with unexpected elements like delicate lace, quilted construction, and structural drapery. This layering creates a sophisticated tension, where the athleticism of the models, including Guo Jike, Lekan Bakare, and Zhichuan Hu, is elevated by avant-garde silhouettes. The series leans into editorial minimalism while utilizing high-speed techniques and classic black and white portraiture to emphasize the physicality of movement. Whether through the crisp, dappled shadows of a park setting or the clean, focused geometry of a studio session, the project treats soccer balls and team kits as sculptural motifs. By grounding this stylized athleticism in both raw urban life and curated, formal compositions, the collective team creates a narrative that feels both documentary in its spirit and undeniably elevated, celebrating a modern, fashion-forward approach to contemporary sport culture.