Soccer and Business: Manjón and Echaide mark goals and create a trend with their ecological fashion brand

Hugged to the road and listening podcast about entrepreneurship.Thus started the new adventure that changed the life of Isaac Manjón and Jon Echaide, two adventurers, lovers of football, fashion and environment.Between balls, training and many hours of effort, they were able to raise a project that today is an example at the national level: 'Not Afraid Brand'.

Sustainable and ecological clothing is a universe that caught them completely and that is increasing.Isaac and Jon have built for years a sports career that has led them to always be linked to football leaving from the quarry of Osasuna and going through teams such as Peña Sport, Huesca, Unionistas, Hercules or Calahorra.Now, Isaac is in the ranks of CD Arnedo and Jon in Sant Julia, in the First Division of Andorra.

However, in their passage through the Haro Deportivo, these two Pamplona athletes found their inspiration to give their lives the change they needed and sought.They launched themselves to the adventure of creating a company on an issue that really were passionate and that is how their project moved by the 'van life' style was born.Now, Isaac and Jon no longer share equipment for the avatars of destiny, but remain united to that change that transformed them forever and that allowed them to create their own organic fashion commercial line combining a business life with sports.

Manjón talks to the Spanish to tell how his project arose, how he has evolved and how they have made a hole in a world where bigger brands are looking for their niche, something they, who saw the opportunity and need beforethat nobody did boldly throwing the adventure of the unexplored and the unknown.

How does your project start?

The idea began last season.I started this project with my former partner Jon Echaide, who now plays in Andorra.During the season we coincided in the Haro Deportivo, we are from Pamplona, we had to do 150 kilometers of first leg and 150 kilometers back.We are both restless and wanting to do things and we were at a time we wanted to undertake.On those trips we began to listen to many podcast on entrepreneurship, on personal growth and then we focus more on how to create a clothing brand that was what caught us most about.Everything starts on those car trips.

When are the first steps of 'Not Afraid Brand'?

In December a year ago we opened social networks to promote our brand.The process starts a little earlier, since the idea arises and we give it, about three or four months before.

Were the first moments in the tried to start?

In the head we had ideas that we liked very much, but then carrying them out is much more complicated than it seems.Every step we had had a lot of work behind, many hours of giving their heads and asking people more expert than.Every step we had also had learning.So we were shaping everything and now it is working, but everything has been complicated.

Has it been an added difficulty starting your project at the time of Pandemia?

Surely yes because anyone who tells you that you take a business right at the time the COVID-19 is telling you that you are crazy or that it is not the time.We are one of the people who arrive when they arrive when they arrive.It was our moment, when we agreed on those trips and when that spark jumped.Do not think if they are moments of the coronavirus or complicated because there will always be an excuse to do so.

What influence does the 'van life' style have in your project and how important is for you?

Our clothing brand is inspired by the world 'van life' which is a van life.This is being a nomadic person, who wants to travel and discover places, making his life on the road, living around nature.That life is related to our name, which means 'not fear'.We believe that a person who has this lifestyle has no fears and is brave.That is why we think that in these complicated moments, that spirit of travel has to be more present.We consider it a way of life that conveys what we feel.

Do you think that the life of the footballer in modest categories is approaching that style 'van life' and nomad?

Yes, totally.We in the categories that we move, around the 2nd RFEF, in the end one year you are in one place and another you are in another, you have to adapt to the circumstances, to the team, if you do a better or a worse season to knowIf you are going to have better or worse equipment.We are accustomed to adapt to different circumstances.

How can it be explained in a simple way what is 'Not Afraid Brand'?

We are focused on ecological clothing and sustainable fashion.We only work with organic cotton, recycled polyester, without plastics on shipments and our products focus on t -shirts, sweatshirts and some accessories.

What are the functions that Jon and Isaac do in the company?

Jon is mainly responsible for what is related to the website and online orders, and I am in charge of logistics, especially with shipments, invoices, be attentive to social networks, go to physical events to be able to sell withOur stand.

Do you have more people in the team or are you who carry all the weight?

We are the ones who carry the weight of the project more, but we have Diego to help us a lot with social networks, videos and give quality to our content.We also have a photographer named Aitor who is a great professional.

Is it possible to carry out a project like 'Not Afraid Brand' if you don't have a true passion for this world?

Of course not because if you don't feel it as you can't do it because it is many hours and you need to put a lot of passion in what you do and feel it like this to transmit it to people and something cool comes out.For us it is a form of change in our life system and the damage that leads to the planet and with these ideas and these projects we help a little at that step.

What is the importance you give to the care of the environment and how much you need to believe that it is more and more brands to start projects such as yours?

We have to take care of the planet in which we live because if a point will not reach that it will not be sustainable.I think it is very important that each person, in their work for example or in their passions, tries to be as sustainable and as ecological as possible, always thinking about our environment.If we do not take care of it, who will take care of it?

There are three words that are important to you: freedom, nature and adventure.What do they mean for you?

Freedom is closely related to the way of life 'van life' because it is a person without ties, who lives his own life, who wants to know new places and experience that form of freedom.We love nature, we take care of it and it is the means in which we move.Day after day, when you carry that kind of nomadic life, every day is an adventure, not like when you lead your most typical life in your home, with your work and your routine.This is an adventure every day, being in one place, then in another.You look for life while enjoying it because it's your passion.Our idea is that for us this is an adventure every day and we are delighted that everyone can meet us and enjoy with us.

How hard is it to take the management of a clothing brand and a sacrificed life like that of a footballer who fights in more modest categories?

It is complicated because you have to adapt a lot.You have to organize a lot, especially with the schedules because you have to fit the time you give your project with training, rest, food care.Everything has to be optimal to perform in all areas without forgetting the sport that in the end is also a profession.When someone feels what he does as our case, even if he dedicates himself to sport as we have been doing all our lives, he finds that in that conjunction everything can be done.

What are your greatest challenges, dreams and illusions with the brand?

We would love to be able to grow little by little, doing things well, without wanting to run more than the account, always being faithful to ourselves and with our own beliefs.We do what we feel ahead of anything.We want our work to penetrate people and like.We want to grow to dedicate ourselves to this in the future because it is what we are most passionate about.That's why we fight every day.

Initiatives such as yours need more aid and impulses by institutions due to the lack of multinational thrust and other large companies?

Any help that comes from public and private institutions that can contribute to these projects is to take into account.We are young entrepreneurs whose projects also look for the good of the environment.These aid could do well to all of us who launched these projects.Looking ahead, we should bet on these ideas.

Has any offer or proposal to you by a company to help you?

We have always gone for free, we have not had any type of third party proposal.We dedicate ourselves to trying to do things well, with our principles very clear and so we continue today.

When you count your project, is it related to the Kimoa brand that was driven by Fernando Alonso?

Today we have not reached that comparison with that specific brand.It is true that more and more brands arise that approach the concept of ecology and sustainable fashion.It is increasingly fashionable and the big brands are adapting to that new era.People really like that philosophy.These big brands are intelligent and believe that adapting to these circumstances can have a greater pull.

Do you think that in help to the environment and in ecological fashion there is too much posture of the people who want to approach?Do you think that can be a double -edged sword to continue growing if that posture is used without being fooled?

We have to be intelligent in that regard and be clear that in our reality, especially in social networks, there is a lot of postureo related to the care of the environment.We have to know that this exists and being intelligent to take advantage of the pull of certain people to have greater visibility and make us known.Thus they know us and the ideals of our project.Even so, we try that all the people who represent us are the most similar to us in their ideals and in their way of living even if you do not know 100%.

Can it be a long -term project to reach the world of sports and create products such as equipment?

It is something that we have not considered today, but in the end we must not rule it out.This is a long -term journey and normally fashion brands so that they work need time.We do not refuse to make certain sports products, but today we are not focused on that, if not an urban fashion inspired by that universe 'van'.It is important to focus on your niche because sometimes if you want to reach all sides you can not reach any.Now the important thing is to focus on our sustainable fashion niche for the world 'van life'.

At a general level, can you dream that the big brands that these equipment can begin to replace them with organic products?

The fashion world, in relation to sustainability, is evolving a lot.There are many brands that are already beginning to make ecological clothing.I do not see it unreasonable that in the future you can make soccer equipment with recycled or ecological materials.It would be very suitable for the care of the planet.

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