In September, Hearts of Pine players wore special pre-match jerseys designed by students at King Middle School. Later, the signed player jerseys were auctioned off to support the return of jersey-design programming in Portland for the school year ahead.

On Sept. 14, Hearts of Pine and hummel celebrated the culmination of their first Design FC afterschool program, which took place at King over the past school year. The Design FC curriculum uses sport and design to help young people explore their own creativity, self-expression and storytelling. Over the course of 12 weeks, students developed jersey concepts reflecting their own stories and values.

At the end of the spring semester, the students participated in a workshop led by staff from Design FC, Hearts of Pine, and hummel to create a one-of-a-kind pre-match jersey. Building on the design skills, ideas and storytelling they explored throughout the program, the student created a jersey inspired by the city and state they call home.

The jersey design itself features dozens of unique elements hand-drawn by students, scanned and arranged to create the final garment. Atop a base of pine trees and green textures is a soccer pitch and a series of hearts, a large portrait of a moose on the back, and sleeves that showcase Maine’s coastal landscapes featuring lighthouses and lupins. On the front where one would expect a partner logo is a hand-written “Up the Hearts,” and on the back is the club motto of “Lead with Your Heart.”

The jerseys were worn by Hearts players during warm-ups ahead of the Sept. 14 match, bringing that shared creative process from the classroom at King Middle onto the field at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

“When we began conversations with Design FC, we knew we wanted to start this programming at King Middle School,” said Hearts of Pine Founder and Chief Community Officer Gabe Hoffman-Johnson when the program was announced. “This collaboration creates an environment where sport, creativity and self-expression come together in a powerful way, and it felt like a perfect fit for the students at King who share the pitch with our players at Fitzpatrick.”

Following the match, fans had the opportunity to bid on signed player-worn jerseys available through an online auction. The jerseys also were available for sale.

All proceeds from both jersey sales and the online auction will support the continuation of the Design FC programming in Portland next year, helping create the opportunity for another group of local students to participate. The match top will also be available for purchase at shop.heartsofpine.com for supporters who couldn’t attend in person or who prefer to secure one outside of the auction.

“The Hearts of Pine continues to be a fantastic partner for the Portland Public Schools and our students. This club was an opportunity to engage students, the jersey design is amazing, and I can’t wait to watch the students when they see their jersey being worn by a professional team. I look forward to wearing mine!” said Portland Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Scallon, prior to the Sept. 14 match.

Design FC is a nonprofit organization that combines sport and creativity through youth-focused programming around the world. Its partnership with Hearts and hummel marked the organization’s first program in Maine. “At Design FC, we’re always looking for like-minded partners to support the growth of our programs,” said Oliver Steinglass, Design FC’s Executive Director. “Hearts are deeply committed to their community and place a high value on design and storytelling, making them an ideal partner for Design FC. We’ve really enjoyed working with the club so far and are excited to continue growing this partnership in Portland.”

The program was made possible through hummel’s partnership, which provided apparel, materials and program funding.