NFL Origins: Elias Jade Not Afraid, Manor, Ashley Macias, OXDX
Written by SOURCE on February 10, 2023
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.
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.
