The essence of Calle was discovered over a trip abroad.

Actually, a couple of trips.

Somewhere between travels of Spain, Brazil and Bolivia forever changed the way four men viewed soccer. So when Tyler Winn, Steve Magleby, Josh Robbins and Travis Winn reconvened back in the US it was no longer the game they coveted.

It was the culture.

“We all had similar stories from various countries of these kids living soccer. All they needed was a ball, and they’d play anywhere,” said Travis, one of the founding members. “There was such creativity and flair and you could see how the game really influenced their everyday lives. That was the spirit we wanted to bring back with us.”

And with that, Calle (meaning “Street” in Spanish) was born, a company that’s as much a movement as it is a brand.

The first rule of Calle: there are no rules.

This is not a business birthed out of the often rigid nature of the American club system, but a vision as free as a street soccer affair contested under the guidance of dim streetlights.

“We’re like the anti (big corporation),” Travis said. “We want to push the informal part of the game and make something for the lifestyle. We haven’t paid anyone to wear Calle. People who do are loyal to it because they believe in the movement.”

Calle is a brand that rests in the hands of its followers, from the direction of the products to the selection of them. When a new design is in production, Calle makes it public, offering online voting and surveys to keep its finger on the pulse of the people.

Soccer is a global game, and so its lifestyle must be also. Freelance designers are strategically selected in different parts of the world - from Brazil to New York - in order to keep the products diverse and multi-dimensional.

As a result, you get gear that’s infused with originality: soccer balls come in mustard and mint; men’s and women’s shirts and sweatshirts are splashed with vibrant colors and individuality - it’s bold; it’s creative, it’s fun.

“We’re keeping ourselves on the cutting edge,” said Tyler Winn, head designer for Calle. “We want to push the limits and let people know that we’re out there and having fun. A lot of it is just about popping off a little bit, and the '80s are coming back. With other brands you’ll see typical team colors but we cater to the individual so we give looks you won’t find other places.”

Adding substance to its style, Calle has a patented ball designed with less bounce and more protection from asphalt and concrete than versions meant for traditional fields.

They have a new line of shoe that will be arriving this summer built for everyday casual purposes as well as activity. It’s said to be a kind of cross between indoor and the skater look, and has a lot of people buzzing about its release.

You’ll find the pigeon logo adorning each product - a symbol of the pigeons who wander the “streets” of every city.

In many cities, it seems, the street soccer bug is penetrating the masses and Calle street leagues have been created by kids who have fallen in love with the style and shift to a freer type of play.

The men behind it are hoping that the spirt of Calle ultimately permeates US soccer as a whole.

“You watch American soccer sometimes and we’re like robots,” Travis said. “Sometimes we lack the quick decision making and creativity of other countries. The game has to come from within, and it has to be a part of our culture in order for us to catch up.”

 

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