Creating Avenues of Expression: Julio Guerrero and Jamie Pham of One Two Threads
Designing the future of LA Galaxy support through collaboration with the club and the community
Julio Guerrero and Jamie Pham started their first clothing line as high school seniors and now run One Two Threads, merging their love for streetwear and LA sports. Julio and Jamie stopped by to talk about their collabs with both the LA Galaxy and independent designers, the growth of the supporter community through fashion, and how the future of Galaxy support is taking shape right now.
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How did you come up with the name One Two Threads?
Julio Guerrero: The term ‘one two’ is synonymous in a lot of sports, right? In soccer, the one two pass. We’re huge Laker fans, so Kobe and Shaq, they call it the best one two punch, you know? We’re big boxing fans too, so the most effective combination is the one two punch, the jab and cross. It just made sense because what we wanted to do was create a line that aligned with sports and the teams we loved, and it just sounded cool. It was just two of us too. It was catchy.
What are your favorite sports teams?
Jamie Pham: We were both born and raised in Southern California, so both of us watch the Lakers, obviously the Galaxy. I grew up watching the Dodgers a lot - I always wanted to be a baseball pitcher, but over time I started watching soccer more and more, so the Galaxy is our top favorite team right now. Our second, probably Lakers.
Talk a little bit about the collab between you and the official Galaxy brand.
Julio: It was one of those proud moments that grew organically. It started with some hats, then some shirts, and then the front office noticed us. Before that collab, they actually invited us to one of the supporters’ groups season ticket holders events, and we thought that was the height of One Two, like we made it. We were really happy just to be invited to the stadium and sell.
As you know, Nelson works for the front office, and he’s always been a great ambassador for us creators. He just reached out to us and asked us ‘hey, would you guys be willing to collaborate with the Galaxy?’ For us it was a no-brainer, right? We really don’t care about the terms, we want people beyond the supporters - because that’s pretty much our niche, the people that support us and buy our stuff. And season ticket holders and your casual fans don’t really know about us. We’re kind of a secret so to speak.
Jamie: Like a niche.
Julio: So when the collab happened, it was pretty awesome. He asked us if we had any designs. We had the Originals queued up for a release, and so they adopted the concept and we went forward. It was one of the greatest accomplishments, I would say, as a One Two organization, me and Jamie, it sold out in the stores.
You work with a lot of local designers in the community. How have you seen the Galaxy independent design community grow?
Julio: We always give credit to Move in Silence, because he’s kind of the original. We just wanted to have a style, other avenues people can wear, so we started doing our thing. He was always so welcoming, and awesome with it, so we decided we have to do the same thing for other people. Anyone that hits us up for any gear, we always try to help out, give them the lowest price. We print for a lot of independent creators too. It’s one of those things where like we feel it’s a community thing. The more the community grows, the better it is for the team, because in the long run that’s why we’re doing this - to represent for the team, to show support for the team. So more creators, that means more fans, that means different versions of the logo, different creative ideas.
It’s always been awesome to see it grow. The first pop up we had four or five vendors, then it rapidly grew up to 20 at The Graff Lab. So to see it grow organically, without the help of the front office, and just supporters and fans - it’s up there with the Galaxy collab as far as accomplishments, helping the community grow, and giving them an avenue to sell. We all get along, we’re all friends, we all support each other. I’ll say this, there’s no community like the Galaxy community. We love what everyone’s created, and the vibe most importantly.
Ryan Hernandez x One Two Threads - Greater than an Area Code. Buy here.
On your site, you have an entire page featuring G’s owned businesses. A lot of those vendors have been at the Blue White and Gold pop ups. Can you talk about those and do you have any plans for another in the near future?
Julio: Definitely. We’re hoping to do one this summer. We’re working on maybe like a cumbia night. But as far as the Blue White and Gold pop up, it’s one of those events that helps us realize how awesome the community is. Everyone that joins, it’s just a great environment. The Blue White and Gold pop up is one of those things we take pride in, because it gives people like us an avenue to express their love for the team. It’s like hanging out with your friends, it’s like a giant party.
Jamie: One of our biggest goals was to bring everyone together. It was borne out of the pandemic, towards the end of 2020 there were no in-person games, so that’s why the first pop up was only five or six vendors. We wanted to keep everyone separate, but we also wanted people to come out, hang out, and talk to each other, because we hadn’t seen each other in like 8, 9 months. And it was open to anybody, you didn’t have to buy anything - kids can come out, eat, hang out.
In your opinion what is the best way a front office can interact with its supporters?
Julio: Honestly, I think it’s a work in progress. I think they’ve done a better job of listening to the supporters. I know there’s the whole boycott right now and it’s justifiable. But just in general, as far as merch and collaborations - think about how many collaborations the front office had with independent creators last year. You had the 2002 Championship shirt with Eric, you had Move in Silence, you had us, Galaxy Art Fire - they’re getting there.
The way I describe it is like a giant cruise ship and they’re trying to pivot, and it’s hard for them to make changes really fast. They’re doing it and we’re moving in the right direction - that’s not to say that we shouldn’t continue to put pressure and give suggestions. I think one of the coolest things is we can say we have, quote on quote, one of our own in the front office, with Nelson. So he understands the whole scene a little bit better than a guy from Portland that they hired that used to work in another organization.
I see it moving in the right direction - it just takes time. Sometimes we’re not patient as fans. As far as design-wise and engagement with the community, they’ve done a pretty good job shifting in the right direction, but we should continue to press and request a bit more and give suggestions and whatnot.
It’s good to have a little bit of optimism about the future, because a lot of people don’t seem to have that right now.
Julio: It’s two different things - the actual product on the field and the actual merch. The merch has gotten better, hands down. The product on the field? Personally, I think it has gotten better, too. It’s just not where we want it to be, and I get that point too. But there has been improvement - we took LAFC to the very last minute. I know a lot of people were disappointed, but for me, I walked out of there with my head held high. We played well, and we had some crappy DPs. Can you imagine if we had some decent DPs? I see improvement. It’s not where we want to be, I get it - but it’s better than pre-pandemic.
It was cool seeing Mark Delgado in the LA Originals Coach Jacket at the Rose Parade. What have the players said about your designs?
Julio: The players like it, right? The players that see the designs - not a lot of players really know how we are. But when they see it, they love it. Mark Delgado, he reached out to us. That new design, he loved it, he wore it. His wife wears our stuff.
Jamie: Raheem Edwards. It’s kind of weird - I know the fans know us, but we’re still growing little by little and we’re getting the attention of the players. The stuff they wear, it’s just the Galaxy team-issued stuff - no knock on that - but when they see our stuff, it’s a fresh spin to it, not just generic cookie cutter stuff because that’s what Adidas put out.
Julio: When the players see it, they’re like, ‘ok cool, I can wear it to the store, right?’ It’s not like I’m wearing a uniform, so to speak, like I would wear at training. It’s cool - Raheem, we gave him a good amount of hats that he passed around to people. It’s cool to see the players notice us.
Favorite soccer jersey of all time, Galaxy and non-Galaxy?
Julio: I have a special place in my heart for the 96, the green and black stripe one. I love that jersey. The first three years, I think were iconic. Most of my love for the Galaxy is a love for the team, right? But it also comes from growing up. You go through challenges in life as a family - you know, first generation, you’ve got a dad and a mom who are just trying to make it in this country. And you encounter a lot of challenges - a lot of sad times, a lot of good times, a lot of bad times. But the one thing that was always constant is the Galaxy, right? No matter what happened, we’d go to the Galaxy and spend time.
So for me, I can tie a jersey into a moment of my childhood. Like the first game, I remember seeing Cien walk onto the field and represent the Salvadorean community. El Tanque, because I’m half Salvadorean, half Ecuadorean - them wearing those jerseys, for me, ties into that proud moment, to be proud of my heritage, because both players were wearing it.
Non-Galaxy, it would have to be - at the time, my dad bought me a baby blue USA jersey. I think it was 98 or 99, it was baby blue and had the USA crest in the middle and the blue collar.
Jamie: For me, Galaxy jersey would have to be the 2013 with two stars and Scudetto badge on the right side. Non-Galaxy - I’m a big Arsenal fan, so it would have to be the SEGA kit. Thierry Henry is one of my favorite players. Or even the throwback banana kit from last year. That looks pretty cool.
The Galaxy talks about the past a lot - Since 96, 5 stars, all that. What do you think the future of Galaxy support looks like?
Julio: We’re living the future, right? When have we seen supporters come together and demand better from the team? If you talk to real supporters, it kind of had to come, right? It’s one of those things where you draw a line in the sand, and you want better for the team. So I think the future is here, now. It’s pretty cool to see all the supporters come together and request, ‘hey, we’ve been patient. We’ve been faithful. We’re tired of sucking,’ you know?
Jamie: It all comes back to one constant, and obviously that’s Chris Klein. The last ten years just haven’t been up to par to Galaxy standards, especially living here in LA, the city of champions. It’s just ‘enough is enough.’
Julio: I think support is stronger than ever. If you think about it, coming together and really doing that? It’s there. It’s pretty awesome to see - what other MLS team has had supporters’ groups that have come together and said ‘enough is enough, we want you to know that we’re tired of it.’ I see it growing, I see it evolving.
Check out new arrivals and full collection at One Two Threads as well as on Instagram and Twitter @onetwothreads.