Have a field day with a set of athletic socks celebrating Fa’atasi—the Sāmoan spirit of team—inspired by the film Next Goal Wins, and created in collaboration with artist Yuki Kihara. Each set features three socks in mix and match colors, inviting you to break the standard style binary and express yourself on the field.

The Inspiration & Impact: Fa’afafine & the third genders that have been here forever.

A central story in Next Goal Wins is that of midfielder Jaiyah Saelua, whose gender identity–fa’afafine–has long been part of Samoan culture. It reminds us that, no matter how new conversations about gender may feel in contemporary America, there’s nothing new about being nonbinary; and thriving cultures on every continent have recognized third genders forever. To extend the impact of this collection, Accompany has made a donation of $10,000 to the nonprofit, The Society Of Fa'afafine In American Samoa.

The Prints: A centuries old tradition, reimagined

The original patterns throughout the collection were created by artist Yuki Kihara to reflect Siapo (handmade barkcloth), one of the oldest Sāmoan cultural art forms. For centuries, Siapo has been passed from generation to generation. Kihara spent years apprenticing under a master artisan, learning the intricate process in order to understand the traditional craft and technique. As contemporary takes on the traditional Siapo symbology, the prints interweave Sāmoan heritage with a vibrant new view of Sāmoa’s future.

The Artist: Yuki Kihara 

An interdisciplinary artist and curator, Kihara was the first Pasifika and the first Fa'afafine artist to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022. Kihara’s work can be found in over 30 permanent collections internationally; including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, British Museum, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Australia; Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand and many more.