One Beautiful Ball (ft. Justin Lea)

In 2012, Hayworth’s founder discovered that seventy percent of all the world’s soccer balls (three million balls per month) were made in one city in northern Pakistan, in a place called Sialkot. He knew he had to go there, he had to see it with his own eyes.

There, he explored the phases of ball making, the factories, the layers of production. He went to the homes of stitchers, and he listened to and watched the people who made the balls. He absorbed all he could of the industry’s complexity, the beauty of the craftsmanship and the massive teamwork involved in the making of a ball.

But he also saw something much darker – an industry rife with grueling labor conditions and exploitative low wage practices. He was as unsettled as he was inspired, and he knew that this would become one of the great endeavors of his life – to build a beautiful soccer ball, and to build it in a beautiful way.

In this episode of the podcast, Hayworth's founder, Justin Lea shares his perspective of the beautiful game! He shares how he first got involved with soccer and what ultimately brought him to think about a better way to design our soccer balls.

It's been our pleasure to have Hayworth Athletic as the sponsor for our show this whole season and we felt it made sense to bring Justin in to share the story of Hayworth, enjoy!

*Humans United FC is proudly brought to you by Hayworth Athletic*

Humans United FC is a multimedia storytelling brand committed to sharing the human experience through the lens of sport. We’re a multi-talented collective of people elevating stories of the beautiful game which often go overlooked. From the bright lights of Miami, Florida to the quiet streets of Saginaw, Michigan folks are playing soccer. Whether you’re using a makeshift or a handstitched ball, footballers come from all walks of life.

Come join host Joe Shaw as we explore some of the most interesting stories the world hasn’t heard YET. Through audio, video, photos, or articles you’ll become familiar with names like Kim Wyant and the 85ers, Jaiyah Saelua and the American Samoa World Cup Qualifying victory, names you might have overlooked but whose impact carries through today.

We invite you to unite under the banner of football, futbol, soccer, whatever you call it. Come share your stories and learn about other’s. We're all unique and the power of sport amplifies and elevates our differences, forming life-long connections.

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