Finding the beauty of humanity through sPORT

I collaborated with Oakland Roots, a professional USL soccer club deeply rooted in the culture and community of Oakland. HUMAN.ET marked the launch of the club’s Roots Artist Residency (RAR) program — an initiative designed to bridge art, fashion, and sport while amplifying underrepresented voices within the city.

The project centered on the idea of home — bringing the comfort, memory, and resilience of domestic spaces onto the soccer field. It was a reflection on humble beginnings and the role they play in shaping identity, perseverance, and belonging.

The residency featured artist Jasko Begović (SKO HABIBI), who designed and hand-sewed the entire collection as a singular, labor-intensive body of work. A refugee from Bosnia, Jasko’s early experiences playing soccer on concrete fields informed both the material choices and the emotional core of the project. Visual scenes were staged using references from his grandmother’s living room and local markets, creating a bridge between past and present.

The HUMAN.ET collection consisted of 22 one-of-one, upcycled garments, accompanied by a zine and a short film. Together, these elements formed a cohesive narrative extension of Jasko’s life, his relationship to soccer, and Oakland Roots’ broader commitment to community, culture, and creative authorship.

Website: oaklandroots.com