From a Mama’s Love to a Movement: The Story Behind Oakland City Limit
- curtis jermany
- Nov 18
- 3 min read
Some of the strongest brands are born from necessity, creativity — and love.
Oakland City Limit is one of them.
What many people don’t know is that this brand didn’t start as a business idea or a long-term plan. It started with a mother determined to support her son.
How It All Started
My wife, Dani — known online as @mrsmoodologist — began making earrings for one simple reason: to raise money for our son’s sports. Track and field. Basketball. Football. Whatever the season was, she handmade pieces to make sure he had what he needed.
She never imagined what would happen next.
Every time she showed up in the stands wearing her creations, people stopped her:
“Where did you get those earrings?”
Mothers. Aunties. Even a few dads.
And soon, her friends were “borrowing” pairs and sending money later. That was the moment we both realized that this wasn’t just a side project — it had wings.
More Than Accessories — They’re Cultural Anchors
Today, Oakland City Limit is much bigger than earrings. It’s expression. It’s identity. It’s heritage.
Dani creates each pair using Afrocentric fabrics that are bold, vibrant, and rooted in our culture. These earrings are not just fashion pieces — they’re storytelling pieces. They represent where we come from, what we’ve overcome, and the beauty in our shared history.
Every pattern is intentional.
Every design has meaning.
Every pair tells a story.
The Power of Community
This brand wouldn’t be what it is without the tribe surrounding it — our MUAs, models, and creative friends who show up with confidence and bring these designs to life. They’ve helped shape a visual world around the earrings, giving each piece a moment, a mood, and a heartbeat.
Their energy is part of the brand’s DNA.
My Role Behind the Lens
As a photographer and content creator, I’ve had the privilege of capturing the evolution of Oakland City Limit from the very beginning. My work — from product photos to lifestyle shoots to cinematic video content — helps translate Dani’s vision into the visuals you see across Instagram, TikTok, and our website.
A strong brand needs strong storytelling, and my goal has always been to build the images and videos that help her pieces speak before anyone even reads the caption.
Together, we’ve created a visual system:
Studio and lifestyle product photography
High-quality video reels showcasing movement + texture
Branding visuals for TikTok Shop + social media campaigns
Artistically styled lookbooks with models + MUAs
Every piece of content is designed to make her earrings feel wearable, powerful, and personal.
Expanding the Vision: Fitness Wear Designed by Me
Oakland City Limit has grown — not just in story, but in product.
Alongside Dani’s Afrocentric earrings, our website also features fitness wear designed by me. This includes pieces inspired by movement, performance, and the same cultural pride that fuels the brand.
Just like the earrings, the fitness line reflects identity and self-expression — whether someone is in the gym, on a run, or simply stepping out with confidence.
It’s all part of the bigger vision:
Art, culture, style, and strength all under one Oakland-rooted brand.
Built on Love. Rooted in Culture. Created in Oakland.
Oakland City Limit is more than earrings and more than fitness wear — it’s a brand that grew from a mother’s love, was shaped by community, and continues to evolve through art, culture, and creative storytelling.
If you’ve supported this journey in any way — shared a post, bought a pair, modeled, applied makeup, worn the fitness gear, or simply encouraged us — we’re grateful for you.
The story continues, and we’re just getting started.
Tap in, support the movement, and wear your story with Oakland City Limit. Follow and Share the Oakland City Limit TicTok Shop for Black Friday Savings!
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