Ophsides: Redefining Soccer Culture in New York City
Uyi Omorogbe and Gabriel Ruja, the founders of Ophsides, are redefining what it means to be offsides in soccer culture.
Ophsides, a soccer streetwear brand, is making waves in New York City's emerging fashion scene.
Uyi Omorogbe and Gabriel Ruja, the duo behind Ophsides, met at Shattuck-St. Mary's elite boarding school for soccer when they were 16 years old. They reconnected in New York after attending college and started working together on creative projects.
The name "Ophsides" was born out of their friendship and shared love of soccer. They changed the spelling of "offsides" to "Ophsides" to represent their unique perspective on the game.
Ophsides is a grassroots brand that exists in clothing, accessories, and at local parks. The duo is creating a new, inherently American aesthetic around the sport, rejecting traditional football nostalgia and replica kits.
We spoke to Omorogbe and Ruja about the origins of Ophsides, building soccer culture in America, and how they're using fashion to make the sport more accessible.
**The Founding of Ophsides**
Omorogbe: We met at Shattuck-St. Mary's when we were 16, and we've been best friends since then. After college, we met up again in New York, and we started working together on creative projects.
Ruja: We wanted to come up with a name that defined our relationship. We started calling ourselves Ophsides, and it's been a name that's stuck with us ever since.
**The Name "Ophsides"**
Omorogbe: We changed the spelling of "offsides" to "Ophsides" because it needed to be something that represents us. We're outside the bounds of the game, and we've always been outsiders.
Ruja: We wanted to keep the name because it represents us so much, so we changed it from "FF" to "PH." It just fits into the whole idea of being offsides.
**Building Soccer Culture in America**
Ruja: We're creating a game that's more accessible to people who haven't grown up playing soccer. We invented the game Ophsides, which is beautiful because it kind of democratizes the game.
Omorogbe: We're focused on reclamation of identity or amplification of identity. We're creating a brand that's not just about the sport, but about being yourself and finding comfort in being different.
**The Oph Tape**
Omorogbe: The Oph Tape is a tool that allows you to build a field anywhere and on any surface. It's a calling card or a beacon to those who are offsides. We use it to play our game in public spaces, and it's a way to summon a third space for football anywhere.
Ruja: It's a tool of creation that allows people to build really anything. We're excited to see what other games and experiences people will come up with using the Oph Tape.
**The Future of Ophsides**
Omorogbe: We're creating a brand that's not just about the sport, but about being yourself and finding comfort in being different. We're excited to see where this journey takes us and how we can continue to push the boundaries of what it means to be offsides.
Ruja: We're just getting started, and we're excited to see what the future holds for Ophsides.
The Ophsides brand is a reflection of the duo's unique perspective on soccer culture and their desire to make the sport more accessible to everyone. With their grassroots approach and innovative designs, they're redefining what it means to be offsides in New York City's emerging fashion scene.
The Oph Tape is a tool that allows people to mark out a field anywhere and on any surface, mirroring the duo's journey as brand founders. They use it to play their game in public spaces, summoning a third space for football anywhere.
Ophsides is a beacon for those who are offsides, a symbol of being outside the bounds of the game and finding comfort in being different. The brand is a reflection of the duo's unique perspective on soccer culture and their desire to make the sport more accessible to everyone.
