Image via NFL
The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event of the year. And while plenty of us eagerly anticipate Sunday to watch the 57th installment of the big game, the festivities are already under way in Phoenix.
On Wednesday afternoon, roughly 11 miles outside of downtown in Phoenix at the Showcase Room in nearby Tempe, Arizona, the NFL unveiled its second annual Origins collection. The project, which kicked off last year in Los Angeles and was tied to Super Bowl 56, aims to spotlight the local brands of the Super Bowl’s host city. This year, those four brands were Elias Jade’s Not Afraid, Jeremy Davis’ Manor, Ashley Macias, and Jared Yazzie and Allie Stone’s OXDX.
Elias Jade Not Afraid’s offering was highlighted by his take on the NFL logo printed on ledger paper, a nod to a traditional Native American art form. Manor created items that channeled vintage sportswear like a purple satin jacket and T-shirts with giant football helmets and “Super Bowl LVII” arching across on the front. Macias made various vibrant art prints fusing elements of the Arizona desert with the human body and football. And OXDX served up logo heavy hoodies and T-shirts with giant back prints like a turquoise NFL shield to mimic the craftsmanship of traditional Native American jewelry.
Image via NFL
Each of the designer’s pieces was displayed at the activation in a makeshift desert complete with real sand and cacti. Some items like hoodies and T-shirts hung from the ceiling on ropes, while others were propped against signage displaying a particular brand’s logo. The collection was available exclusively to locals at the event on Wednesday, but select items are currently shoppable via NFLShop.com.
“Representing more than just merchandise, Origins: An NFL Collection welcomes diverse artists into the NFL ecosystem, with the opportunity to showcase their designs, community, and background through an NFL lens,” said Jonathan Beane, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at the NFL. “Through this program, we are able to build stronger local connections and in return create deeper engagement with fans off-field through art, culture, and representation.”
Learn a bit more about each of this year’s NFL Origins designers below.
Elias Jade Not Afraid
Can you tell me a little bit about your brand and what you create?
I originally started it as a beadwork business, which merged into fashion and even my own makeup line. Everything’s rooted in traditional tribal arts. I self-taught myself how to bead when I was 12 years old.
You have this dresser set up in your area with various items on it. How does this represent your brand?
The photo here is of my great-great-grandfather. Back then, they put my tribe onto reservations. We were put into this area with no self-governing or anything. So, my grandfather stepped up to be the chairman for us and speak on our behalf to become a sovereign nation. Because of him we were able to get all this land and have all these rights. I grew up in his daughter’s home. But I never met her. She passed before I was even here. I took apart beaded leggings she had made and put them back together. That’s how I taught myself how to do it. Fast forward 15 years later to 2015, I started doing more intricate, larger works based around my family and my culture, just putting it out there to show that we’re still here. Native Americans are still active.
What did you design for NFL Origins?
I did all the original designs on antique ledger paper. Back then, they killed off the buffalo in the plains area. My tribe used to use buffalo hides as a way to paint and tell stories. It was like a written form of history. But when they got rid of the buffalo, we had to adapt. They started using ledger books and ledger paper to sketch out battle scenes and other things that happened. I just wanted to kind of pay homage to that. It’s an art form that needs more awareness.
What made you want to participate in the Origins activation?
Having Native representation matters. Not with just this project but any other. We’re overlooked. If you say you’re a Native artist, people think you just make trinkets and stuff that you sell at tourist shops. But no, it’s actually more than that now. Last year, I sold a 46 inch by 18 inch piece to the Met in New York City that will go on display this summer. There’s other collaborations that I’ve done, using my art as a medium to show my artistic freedom.
Do you have a favorite item from what you’ve made?
Probably the ledger art poster just because you can see the full spectrum and color of it.
For anyone experiencing this Origins space and discovering your work for the first time, what would you want their main takeaway to be?
That we’re still here. Native people are still here and alive. We have this whole art culture that hasn’t really been seen or not a lot of people know about because it’s not really mainstream. So using a platform like this kind of helps highlight and show people that there’s other things to do out there besides just what’s in Phoenix. That’s why I chose to do the filming at the Heard Museum. It’s kind of like a hub for learning the culture of Arizona and Native people.
Who’s your pick for Sunday?
[Laughs.] I’m staying out of the drama.
Manor
Can you tell me a little bit about your brand and what you create?
Manor started as a passion project that turned into a full-time job. It’s a hub in the community where individuals who wouldn’t otherwise come together can come, feel comfortable, and get their shoes or apparel.
Were you a sneaker person?
Yeah, my whole life. Growing up playing hoops, I just always had a passion for footwear. In second grade, I said I was gonna own a mall when I grew up.
What made you want to participate in the Origins activation?
They reached out in an email and it was like, ‘Hey, this is so-and so from the NFL. We saw what you did with Mitchell and Ness. Do you want to design a capsule collection for the Super Bowl?’ And I looked at the email like, ‘They’re fucking with me.’ [Laughs.] And it turned out it was legit. I jumped on it right away.
What did you design for NFL Origins?
Orange is always a primary color for us. We do a lot of stuff inspired by the Suns, inspired by southwestern patterns, the colors of the sunset. We just kind of blended it all together and created this collection.
Do you have a favorite item from what you’ve made?
I’d say the bomber jacket. It takes me back to when I was a kid and had my first Starter jacket and how good it made me feel to wear at school. I got that same feeling today, just a little older. [Laughs.]
What is something I guess about Arizona’s streetwear and sneaker community that people may not realize?
I think it gets overlooked that there even is a community. I think one thing that we do a good job of is bringing a very diverse group of people, whether it’s artists, sneakerheads, CEOs, they all come together and they find other opportunities because they met at Manor. It’s cool to see it all come together.
For anyone experiencing this Origins space and discovering your work for the first time, what would you want their main takeaway to be?
I think we’re just an authentic Arizona storyteller that happens to sell sneakers and apparel that you probably won’t find at other places in town. The quality of the products that we make for our own brand, there’s a lot of thought and process that goes into that. I just hope they feel good about it.
Who’s your pick for Sunday?
I’m not a fan of either. I grew up in Las Vegas. But I think the Eagles will pull it off.
Ashley Macias
When did you get asked to be part of this?
Several months ago they had reached out. I’ll be honest, I was a little hesitant at first just because I didn’t know exactly what it could be. I wanted to make sure the message was right. It’s always an amazing opportunity to be a part of something like this, but it’s also important to know the message you’re sending and why you’re collaborating. I think the people behind Origins were really authentic and they had a really strong message to send. So, I was on board. It’s been a really big learning experience for me. To be on a platform like this, it’s been really cool.
What was the message that you wanted to make sure was sent?
I mean, there’s always the importance of being able to highlight your own work and the message behind your work. But I think it was an opportunity to use a very, very big platform like the NFL to shed light on not only my art, but also the community that makes it. I wanted to use the platform to show how creative a city this is and what the community has to offer.
How did you first get into art?
There’s not a particular start. I’ve always loved creating. Art is something I truly have always wanted to do, whether I knew exactly what that meant or not. Now that I’m older, I realize that there’s obviously more to it. There can be a business model behind it. Murals and stuff have been something new in the last few years. I’m just always trying to find new ways to share my narrative, but also create something beautiful.
What did you design for NFL Origins?
I created limited edition prints. All of them were very different in styles, but still my own. They evoke not only the surrealism behind the desert and the inspiration of living here, but also connection. My work is meant to evoke something greater within and outside our human shells, our human connection to nature and our environment, the deeper complexities of the human experience. That connection is something that I felt could be used through something like the NFL. When you think about the NFL and what people love about it, it brings people together and it does create a form of connection. There’s an energy behind it.
What made you want to participate in the Origins activation?
I probably wasn’t the easiest one to convince, but I really felt it was important to communicate with them and discuss the who, what, and why they do this. I felt like the team behind Origins just really cared. I felt like they really had a strong message to send and they really cared about the authenticity behind the artist. It was real and it felt raw. This was a cool opportunity to honor my community and say, ‘thank you.’
What do you hope visitors here for the Super Bowl can learn about the city?
Just how hard everyone works. Just have appreciation for the people that are working their butts off to bring this to you. There’s a lot of things going on right now and there’s a lot of hardworking people. Just keep in mind that we welcome you and we’re happy to have you here, but give gratitude and respect to the community that is working hard every day to create this for you. We’re all collaborating together and making something really exciting for the city.
For anyone experiencing this Origins space and discovering your work for the first time, what would you want their main takeaway to be?
Whether it’s for them or not, just to take a moment and look at it. Whether it’s for you or not, thank you for taking a moment to reflect on it and look at it. Thank you for letting me share it with you.
Do you have a favorite item from what you’ve made?
Yeah, that’s tough. I told someone about 10 minutes ago that I really love the ‘Head’ one because it kind of sheds light on the beautiful sunsets and sunrises here in Arizona. I said I might change my answer in 10 minutes. And right now I really love ‘Love and Land’ because it ties into a more colorful depiction of not only the desert but has a more indigenous route to it. Each piece is different. They’re all kind of referencing different things that I’ve taken from living here.
Who’s your pick for Sunday?
My mom loves football and she loves the Cowboys. She said that the Eagles are a big threat, a sworn enemy to the Cowboys. I’m not allowed to go for them. So naturally, I’m gonna piss her off and I’m gonna say the Eagles. [Laughs.]
OXDX
Can you tell me a little bit about your brand and what you create?
OXDX is the name of the brand. Overdose Designs is what it stands for. I took that from a Lupe Fiasco song. The intro of The Cool is a spoken word poem. The last line of it is, ‘Check your ingredients before you overdose on the Cool.’ It’s talking about how specific things were cool in a certain setting, but you got to check yourself to see if that’s really what you’re about. We took that to heart. I thought there were a lot of things to keep in check every time I went home. My grandparents used to live on the reservation. They used to manage their own cornfield. They used to harvest every September. It all felt a lot more genuine and made sense to me. OXDX is sort of a statement to check your consumption, to always look back at your traditional teachings and a simpler way of living and not get too caught up in things.
What made you want to participate in the Origins activation?
As soon as I heard about it, my mind started going about what kind of designs to make to represent for Arizona. I heard we got recommendations from last year’s brands. So, that just made me feel proud. Getting noticed by LA Brands was something special for us. We’ve done collaborations with brands like The Hundreds in the past and we’re looking for more collaborations after this. So, it just feels good to be noticed by your peers. I got designs in my head as soon as I heard about it and was just excited to create something. It was just the stress of making it happen. We learned so much through this whole process.
What did you design for NFL Origins?
We have three main design pieces. The first one I did was called the Turquoise Shield, and that’s an homage to silversmiths and Navajo jewelers. I’m Navajo myself. I think it’s something really distinct about Arizona.You can go to a flea market, a powwow, any type of those small tables and there’s an artist selling their jewelry that turns out to be an incredibly detailed piece. It took all of their generational knowledge to put it into existence. Navajo people don’t flex too much about it, but it is a big flex. They can be proud of that. I wanted to just showcase that. I’m really surprised the NFL actually let me reimagine the logo. That’s pretty cool.
The other one is called Out Bounds. It’s real Arizona. It’s real desert. It features a cactus and has a shout out to res life. Back when I would be playing on the res, there’s no fence or anything. The ball just rolls off and you have to run like a mile to go fetch it. It usually gets caught up in a bunch of sticker bushes. So that tee has a football on top of the cactus. I thought it was pretty funny.
The last one’s called Native Land. We’re a brand that shouts out Native people and that supports Indigenous resistance. We want to give a voice to the issues that happen to Native people. So overall, I just wanted everyone to know that everything is taking place on Native land. That should be a consideration for when you come and visit a place like this, that Native people have lived here forever. Phoenix exists because of the system set up by the Salt River tribe. So, it’s just a way to pay tribute to the people that have lived here forever.
Do you have a favorite item from what you’ve made?
The Turquoise piece is my personal favorite of the whole collection. It just took the longest. I was looking at the screen for, I don’t know, three weeks or something trying to make that piece with all these different details. But the whole process has been great. I’m just a T-shirt guy normally, so we dabbled into these other things. We made a water bottle. We made these magnets because I feel like Arizona’s kind of a touristy spot. There’s always the tourist shops that have little metal magnets and you take one home to put on your fridge. We wanted to encapsulate that as well. I think it all ties together.
How did you initially get into streetwear?
I was a struggling college student. I was trying to get an engineering degree. I have a big engineering family background. I thought I was going to be that as well, but it didn’t work out for me. I was always sketching. I was always doodling on the side and then making custom clothing. When I learned screen printing, it really took off. But really, it was street art I was in love with. I loved that you could put an idea out on the wall for free and that it was accessible to everybody.
For anyone experiencing this Origins space and discovering your work for the first time, what would you want their main takeaway to be?
Native people are everywhere. I want people to continue to find these Native artists that have this generational knowledge of what they’ve been doing. Native people are just surrounded by art from birth. Everything we get around us has stories to it. It has a purpose. And I think a Native art movement is really something that needs to be focused on. So I hope these bigger brands like the NFL will reach out more and let Native people have a little shine. It’ll really share art the way it’s supposed to be shared and give a new perspective I think.
Who’s your pick for Sunday?
We’re going with the Eagles.