February 5, 2025

What is stOAKed?

stOAKed is a lifestyle brand, record label, and artist collective I founded in high school, rooted in the heart of Oakland. What started as a pitch for a youth entrepreneurship competition evolved into a full-blown apparel and culture brand dedicated to uplifting local voices and reframing the city’s image. The brand name is a play on words: “stoked” for excitement, and “OAK” for Oakland pride.

Our Mission

The mission was simple: tell a different story about Oakland—one of resilience, creativity, and community. By collaborating with local artists and makers, we created gear and content that expressed the city’s spirit, while providing a platform for emerging talent.

What I Built

• Designed over 100 unique clothing and merch pieces, including tees, hoodies, and prints.
• Sold more than 1,500 items, both online and through local storefronts.
• Partnered with local shops, events, and retailers to expand community reach.
• Collaborated with artists, musicians, and designers to launch capsule collections and content.

Highlights & Press

• Recognized by East Bay Express for challenging the Oakland A’s use of our mark: “Oakland Teen Says A’s Stole His T-Shirt Design.”
• Presented at BUILD.org’s youth pitch competitions, where stOAKed first took root.
• Featured in showcases and pop-up events throughout the Bay Area.

Technology & Tools

• Shopify for storefront management
• Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for apparel design
• In-person and grassroots marketing through community hubs

Why It Matters

In a time when the media often painted Oakland with a one-dimensional brush, stOAKed offered a counter-narrative—one made by the people, for the people. It became a small but powerful way to reclaim the narrative and inject pride, play, and creativity back into our daily wear.

Learn More

Visit: stoaked.co Twitter: @staystoaked

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If you want to collaborate, carry our line, or explore licensing the brand for new cities or causes, reach out.