Months after an EF3 tornado rocked St. Louis, devastation can still be seen across the area. Families continue to wait for resources in some of North St. Louis’ hardest-hit neighborhoods, and a great deal of work remains as winter approaches.
St. Louis native artist Smino is stepping up to help by collaborating with St. Louis CITY SC to launch a merch line that will donate 100 percent of proceeds to Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ tornado relief efforts. The Grammy-nominated rapper and founder of the Zero Fatigue collective is no stranger to nonprofit work. His annual Kribmas benefit concerts raise money for the community, and his foundation partnered with Action STL earlier this year to raffle off tour merch in exchange for canned goods and nonperishables.
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Now, Smino is partnering with CITY SC for a personally designed merch collaboration, which has been in motion since May. Smino has created four designs that play with CITY SC’s iconography and reflect the love for his hometown soccer club. The collection is available at stlcitysmino.com and CITY Pavilion, CITY SC’s team store, while supplies last. The first 50 people to purchase an item from the collection at CITY Pavilion will receive a free SMINO CITY bandana.
“Fashion has always been a big part of my life, so I’m grateful to be able to collab with CITY SC for a great cause,” says Smino. “It’s more than just clothes; it’s about representing St. Louis and giving back to the city that raised me.”
Smino and CITY initially came together last season, when Smino was tapped to lead the club’s “Homegrown” artist initiative, which provided support and a stage for five St. Louis artists. Now, Smino and CITY SC are aiming to make a larger impact.
“It’s one of those things that goes beyond wins and losses,” says Matt Sebek, CITY’s chief experience officer. “It’s something more culturally relevant and in line with who we are as a club.”
