Before YRDZ was born, I spent my life behind the screen — literally. I worked in VFX (Visual Effects) for some of the biggest movie studios in Hollywood, CA, helping to create worlds that inspired millions. But in 2024, everything changed.

The Writer and Actors Strikes shook Los Angeles to its core. Productions stopped. Studios went silent. Overnight, the industry that once never slept became still. Like thousands of others, I lost my job — not just a paycheck, but a sense of purpose I’d built for years.

And when the dust settled… Hollywood didn’t bounce back.

The industry I loved stayed broken.

California fell behind — tangled in red tape, impossible permits, weak film incentives, and a system that made it harder and harder for creators to survive.

I started doing freelance work on TV commercials to stay in the game, but it wasn’t enough. The passion was there — the purpose wasn’t. I needed something that made me feel alive again.

Around that time, my son started playing high-school football, and that changed everything. Being on the sidelines, watching his dedication, seeing the fire in his teammates, the energy of Friday nights under the lights — it reminded me of what I’d been missing. The teamwork. The discipline. The grit. Theheart.

That’s when YRDZ was born.

YRDZ (pronounced Yards) became my way to channel everything I learned from struggle, creativity, and football— the sport that’s always been my escape, my teacher, and my fire. Football represents everything the film industry had lost: teamwork, discipline, passion, and resilience. On the field, like in life, you get knocked down — but you get back up, one yard at a time.

YRDZ isn’t just another clothing brand. It’s my personal comeback story, built from the lessons of both Hollywood and the gridiron. Every design, every stitch, every drop of sweat in this journey is about earning your yards — fighting for progress even when the world hits pause.

This brand is for the fans who live for Friday nights, the college students chasing their dreams, and the NFL faithful who never stop believing. Whether you’ve played the game or lived it from the stands, YRDZ is for you — for everyone who knows that greatness is measured not in miles, but in yards gained through resilience.

Welcome to YRDZ.

Born from setback. Fueled by passion.

Every yard earned matters.

Helder F. - founder YRDZ