HERE'S YOUR SIGN: TAKE THE CHANCE!

Chance Athletics is a Southern California born and bred athletic design company all powered by Joyce Kao. Since 2017, she’s been driven by the desire to bring a freshness and shake up the male dominated sporting goods industry, which has always been rooted in tradition. Swooshes. Athletic standards. We all know it. With little room to express creativity, Chance Athletics is making a splash in the scene. Here designs are not only catching the eye of sports enthusiasts — but also non-sports enthusiasts alike — making them more inclined than ever to go out and play.

Interview Conducted & Written by Designer & Comedian Megan Gazzo.
The incredibly talented fashion designer, writer and funny girl is a MUST follow online — you can find her work @gazzybygazzo or on her brand's website.

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS , HEAD ON THE COURT. THE FLOAT MINI.

With Chance’s unique ball designs, they have literally taken a “spin” on basketballs & volleyballs that no one has ever seen before. They have refreshed the designs and narrative around sports to uplift people up and encourage self-expression. We are always told time and time again to be ourselves, and Chance is the first ball company to really embrace that methodology.

These artistic pieces of art bounce from being an idea in Joyce’s mind, into a slam dunk on the court. With Chance’s passion being in people and design, they also emphasize the importance of showcasing and uplifting other artists, and you will see many collabs popping out of their workshop.

It was an honor to get to learn a little more about Joyce, her process, and inspiration behind this stellar company altogether. With the power to play, we have the power to win.

E&E: Hey Joyce!! Soo.. let’s get into it, what inspires you and drives you?
Chance: Simply, put, I want people to be happy. It’s not always an easy task,but it motivates me to do what I do. Storytelling is an art form that influences me daily .

E&E : What are your some rituals that you keep you on track, that keep your mission moving forward each day in this motivation to spread art and make people happy?

Chance: Meditation and Journaling. Setting my intentions and goals for the year , then month, then week, then day has been really helpful in keeping me motivated and seeing things from a macro and micro view. Reading has been helpful too, it keeps me present since I can only focus on what’s right in front of me.

E&E: As a creative myself, I know that we are bound to come up against some creative blocks. Can you tell me what your strategies are for moving through them?

Chance: I remind myself that creative blocks and challenges are a natural part of the process I try to give myself grace and take a moment to step back and see if there’s another way to approach the situation. Talking things through with a friend or colleague and gaining a different perspective also helps.

E&E: How do you want your art to affect the world and people:

Chance: I hope people find joy in whatever I create . I’ve heard a lot of people say that they don’t play sports, but our gear made them want to play. That’s the biggest compliment and big part of why Chance exists. Giving someone a reason, or the confidence welcomes them to play.

BLOOM BALL. LIKE A FLOWER- WE FIND THE POWER TO BLOOM .

E&E: What does an ideal utopian world look like to you?

Chance: Everyone accepts and embraces themselves and others as they are. Hope is abundant and the concept of comparison doesn’t exist. I think if we got really good at loving ourselves, the world would naturally become a better place.

E&E: What sorts of ways do you contribute to making the world a better place and transmuting the darkness?

Chance: I try my best to leave a bit of positivity everywhere I go. Donate my time and support to people and causes. My goal is to get to a point where my impact is greater, and I’m granted more time to dedicate to giving back.

BODHI BALL. BRIMMING WITH SYMBOLISM & INTENTION.

E&E: So, I am sure there is a story behind every ball. I was hoping you could you tell us more about the Bodhi Ball that is pictured above?

Chance: The Bodhi Ball is designed by artist Jor Ros. The design relies heavily on symbolism to convey a strong message using key words COMMITMENT, GOAL, RENEWAL , CHANGE, HOPE. The Daruma ( the traditional Japanese doll face on the ball) is used to represent a strong commitment. When a person thinks of a goal they want to pursue , they fill in the left eye . Once they complete the goal , they fill in the right eye. Notice the left eye of the doll is already filled in, symbolizing our commitment to positive change. Not to mention, the ball is made 80% out of recycled rubber.

We partnered with Jor Ros for this basketball design. Jor includes hints of basketball throughout his work and has the ability to convey a strong beautiful message , even if the subject matter is playful.

E&E: Wow, That is such a beautiful story and I really love the symbolism. Thank you so much for sharing, I’d like to wind down this interview by asking you a reflective question. If you could go back and give some advice to your younger self , what would it be ?

Chance: Don’t rush or feel like you’re running out of time because good things take time. Things worth having never come easy, so embrace your journey and have fun with the ride.

E&E: Wow! I will actually take the at advice with me now. Thanks for that Joyce. I think our society is always pressing us with instant gratification and it is true, good things take time and do not come immediately. Thank you so much for your time, for your mission, and for putting this beautiful art out into the world. I personally own 2 Chance balls and I love them to pieces. Can you please let the people know where we can find your work and support what you are up to?

Chance: Yes! Please give us a follow on instagram which can be found at Instagram.com/chance_athletics . Also check out our site www.Wearechance.com . Chance stands with the Black and Asian communities #blacklivesmatter#stopasianhate

Please check out Chance Athletics on instagram! Grab a ball for the next family picnic and perfect for your cousin’s birthday present!