Emmanuel Ozias ’25 Puts His Designs on the Field

The Montclair State University alum launched Lock1n while earning his bachelor’s degree. Now, four New Jersey high school football teams wear his uniforms

Montclair alumnus Emmanuel Ozias ’25, wearing a black Lock1n cap and jacket, stands by a chain-link fence surrounded by Orange High School football players in orange helmets and uniforms.

Emmanuel Ozias ’25, founder of Lock1n, gets an up-close look at Orange High School football players wearing his custom uniform designs. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa)

Meet the alum
Name: Emmanuel Ozias ’25
Major: Industrial and Product Design, BFA

Four New Jersey high school football teams are taking the field this season in uniforms designed by Emmanuel Ozias ’25, who launched his apparel brand while studying at Montclair State University.

Among them is Orange High School, where players recently showed off their new uniforms, designed to give them confidence before the first snap.

“When I see the athletes wearing what I created, it reminds me why I started,” says Ozias, founder of Lock1n.

Montclair alumnus Emmanuel Ozias ’25 smiles while standing on the track beside a football field, wearing a black Lock1n jacket and cap.
Emmanuel Ozias ’25, founder of Lock1n, watches from the sidelines at Orange High School, where athletes wear custom uniforms he designed. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa)

A Bold Goal from the Start

“When I arrived at Montclair, I set a bold goal: to start a business by the time I graduated. With guidance from mentors and support from scholarships, I learned not only in the classroom but through real-world experiences.

“College prepares you, but once you’re in the pool, it’s a different feeling. I was in EOF, and the workshops pushed me out of my comfort zone. I studied art and also took business classes, which helped me understand the emotional side of running a company. It’s not just design. It’s landing the bid and knowing how to communicate.”

An Orange High School football player looks down at a football in his hand while wearing a bright orange Lock1n jersey with “Tornadoes” across the chest.
An Orange High School football player models a custom Tornadoes uniform designed by Emmanuel Ozias ’25. (Photo by University Photographer John J. LaRosa)

Growing Lock1n After Graduation

“Since graduating, I’ve been growing my company and reaching out to schools across New Jersey. As a designer, you’re always focused on design, but you also have to learn sales, manufacturing and closing the deal. I’m slowly building my team, studying my competitors and using AI to support the business. It’s been an adventurous first year out of college.”

In addition to the Orange High School Tornadoes, athletes from James J. Ferris High School in Jersey City, Columbia High School in Maplewood and East Orange High School wear Lock1n.

‘Lock In, Lock In’

“A coach reached out to me about flag football for Orange High School. I’d never done flag football before, but I’m a risk-taker, so I told the coach we could do it. It was a whole new market: a girls’ team. When I go to the games, they chant, ‘Lock in, lock in.’

“A lot of designers never see their products in real life. They design something, and someone higher up approves it or doesn’t. When I’m walking in my neighborhood, I see kids in my apparel. Whenever I land a new deal and see the joy it brings an athlete, that’s a highlight.”

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