Soccer was my first design school.
Now that the World Cup is over, I've been thinking about why this game has shaped me so much.
For me, soccer has always been more than 90 minutes on the pitch. It's arriving early to practice just to kick the ball around. The nerves before kickoff. Making the run up the left and calling for the cross because you know you've timed it perfectly. Walking off the field exhausted after a hard-fought game. It's a whole world.
And somewhere in that world is where I fell in love with design.
The World Cup reminded me of that. The games and excitement… and also because I found myself doing what I always do: obsessing over the jerseys. The way every country tells a story through color, graphics, and identity. Design aesthetics from around the world in one shared medium: the kit.
Football Fashion
As a kid, I wanted cool soccer clothes, but there wasn't much out there for girls. An oversized men's shirt at best, maybe one option for cleats, adult socks. So I made my own. I mixed jerseys with clothes from my closet, sewed pieces together, wore bright orange cleats I found in a catalogue from Italy, and rarely played without my bumblebee black and yellow socks.
It's not that I was trying to stand out per se, but rather - I was just trying to feel like myself.
Looking back, that became Rubisnacks. Being able to move, compete, sweat… and still be who you are. You should never have to pause yourself. Ever.
A little nod
This shoot was a little nod to that part of my life, bringing two worlds together: Swagger and Grit. The Chaos Banana print, designed on a last minute whim because I felt the collection was missing a bit of chaos, paired with cleats for the pitch. I wanted the looks to have the attitude and individuality of football fashion, while still feeling grounded in the movement, intensity, and resilience it takes to play the game.
A little love letter to the sport that taught me how to see design.
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