Hacky Sack Craze Turns Small San Diego Shop Into Big‑Time Biz

A quiet buzz on a smartwatch in late April caught the eye of Giovanna Mantilla, owner of a fair‑trade shop in San Diego. The notification came from her company’s sale of a simple footbag, and soon the alerts multiplied like a viral meme. Mantilla wondered why her long‑standing business was suddenly flooded with orders for a nostalgic game.

The answer lay in TikTok, where Gen Z teens were rediscovering the classic hacky sack. The platform’s algorithm pushed short clips of students in parks, beaches and schoolyards juggling the ball with friends. The trend grew fast, turning a niche product into a nationwide craze.

With demand exploding, Mantilla’s two‑person team swelled to six. She retooled her warehouse into a fulfillment hub, sending out thousands of hand‑crocheted bags made by women artisans in Guatemala and Mexico. The company’s TikTok channel documented the frenzy, showing rows of colorful sacks and staff rushing to ship orders.

The revival also gave new life to the craft community. Mantilla’s network of over 200 women artisans, who had previously made masks during the pandemic, pivoted to producing more footbags. The surge in sales benefited both her business and the artisans’ livelihoods.

Hacky sack’s comeback is a mix of digital hype and analog joy. Teens now treat the game like competitive sports, creating online rankings and team pages that mimic high‑school athletics. Libraries have even adopted the game to draw students away from screens.

The product’s roots trace back to Oregon in the 1970s, and it survived as a niche item until social media breathed new life into it. Mantilla’s shop now processes 150–200 orders daily, and the fair‑trade model keeps profits flowing back to the makers.

Beyond a sales spike, the trend has broadened Mantilla’s reach, reinforcing her belief that commerce can be humane. The small footbag has become a catalyst for community and economic change across continents.