Nestled on the always bustling South Street between 8th and 9th is P's & Q's, a streetwear store built and operated by Chinese American brothers and Union fans Rick and Ky Cao.
The pair spent their childhood nearby in the neighborhood, often playing soccer together, and as their love for the game and Philadelphia sports grew, so did they, becoming successful local business owners.
Inside their hand-built wood-interiored shop, one of their priorities is fostering community through creating meaningful connections while outfitting shoppers with premium quality upscale casual-wear and accessories.
They do so, in part, through sharing their culture – and that’s just what they did with the Philadelphia Union in the club’s latest edition of Philly Crafted.
[Bringing these two communities together], it's really special. Soccer was really important to us – Ky and I used to play when we were in school, so it was reminiscent of our childhood when the Philadelphia Union reached out to us,” Rick said.
“As a kid growing up and now, sports are really important here in Philadelphia, and so is the connection with people in general. This is a sports town, and it's really important that we connect sports and people together.”
2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, and in celebration of the Lunar New Year and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, Philadelphia Union collaborated with P’s & Q’s to launch a limited edition capsule, designed by the Cao brothers themselves.
“In 2025, the mix of Snake and Wood energy brings a vibe of renewal and growth. It’s the perfect time to slow down a bit, reflect, and start thinking strategically about where you’re headed—both personally and professionally,” Ky said.
“The Snake brings wisdom, transformation, and a bit of that clever, intuitive edge. Paired with the supportive and steady energy of Wood, this year’s all about being adaptable, staying grounded, and leaning into growth. Use this time to reset, refocus, and plant the seeds for what’s next. With the way this year is shaping up, it’s more important than ever to follow the path the Wooden Snake is laying out for us—steady, intentional, and full of potential.”
During their creative process, the P's and Q's team leaned on themes and colors traditional to Lunar New Year celebrations for inspiration, using reds and wood texture along with a reimagined version of the club’s beloved snake emblem to craft five unique items that bridge their culture with the Philadelphia Union.
“I feel like this capsule is special because we're touching the base of Lunar New Year, the Union’s logo is a snake, and it's the Year of the Wood snake. Our shop's made of wood. It just felt like the stars were aligned,” Ky said.
“For all of us, this collection means a lot because we're also born and raised in Philly and the Union’s a Philadelphia team, so to put this capsule together was special for us.”
Much like the Union has experienced so far this year, the brothers explained that 2025 is a time for transformation, growth, and renewal. Ahead of the drop, Union players Nathan Harriel, Quinn Sullivan, and Jovan Lukic were invited to the shop to be the first to try on the gear and learn how the designs for each item came to be.
One item was inspired by the Chinese tile-based game Mahjong, and the Union boys even had the opportunity to check out the Cao brothers’ personal set.
The collection is set to hit the Philadelphia Union Fan Shop ahead of the match against LA Galaxy on May 14th – click here to purchase a ticket to the match to shop the club’s latest collaboration.
More about P’s and Q’s
“We wanted to plant this shop somewhere that's known for ruckus. South Street is one of the craziest streets in Philly, and we wanted to tell people to mind their manners, to be on their best behavior. We chose South Street because we grew up in this neighborhood and we just shopped all the time. Our favorite thing about South Street is it's a street with a whole bunch of random stores. You've got your healthy food, you've got your junk food, you've got your cheap clothes, your expensive clothes. But the one thing we all have in common is that most of us are Philly natives, so it makes it special for us.”
