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Teen funds school with retro soccer jerseys

Welsh teen Eleri Williams founded vintage soccer jersey business Ballers CP to fund her academic dreams when she was just 15 years old. Williams spoke with CBS News' Ramy Inocencio about soccer, fashion and the enduring popularity of sportswear.
Jul 7 (03:13)

TRANSCRIPT FOR: “TEEN SELLS VINTAGE SOCCER JERSEYS TO SUPPORT LAW SCHOOL DREAMS”

ELERI WILLIAMS:
00:01:03

It was a Paris Saint-Germain Louis Vuitton 2006/2007 away shirt. So it's very rare, and the guy-- we had it on a mannequin at an event. And the gentleman came up, and he was like, oh my God, I've been looking for this forever. How much did he pay for it? I think it went for around 250 pounds. So it's on the higher spectrum of shirts. We can sell a shirt for 15 pounds all the way up to 300 pounds.

RAMY INOCENCIO:
00:01:31

What has made retro cool?

ELERI WILLIAMS:
00:01:34

I think the uprising and the reigniting of the older football shirts, links to people wanting the nostalgic element, but also influencers and social media wearing older shirts and making them a fashion statement rather than a sporting memorabilia item. I think the links between sport and fashion are at its peak now more than ever. And I think that definitely influences what your average consumer is buying. When someone wears a soccer jersey, a football jersey for fashion, what statements might they be making if they wear one thing over another? I mean, like anything in football, it's so much linked to politics, culture, controversy. I think there's so many things. So there's many shirts that come to mind, especially at the time of COVID, there was a lot of shirts that were protesting for Black Lives Matter. And they're very culturally relevant at the time. And she said she made 35,000 pounds. So let me translate that. That's about $48,000 for law school. She actually admitted she wasn't financially savvy. I mean, she was 15 at the time, but now she definitely is. And I think, Errol, this is a good, inspiring financial responsibility story from someone, again, who was just 15 years old when she started out. And she says that she now has this store. And this is all just icing on the cake in terms of profit for the rest of her future, basically. Good for that young lady. I hope young viewers watching are raiding their parents closets right now, looking for something retro. Ramy, thank you so much. Great story this morning. You bet.

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