Yet another footwear brand has decided to draw on the star power of an accomplished athlete, this time from the world of tennis.
K-Swiss tapped five-time Wimbledon winner Venus Williams as its latest brand ambassador. The face of the heritage tennis brand’s “Club K-Swiss” campaign, Williams also designed a limited-edition footwear and apparel collection in partnership with her activewear and lifestyle brand EleVen by Venus Williams.
The K-Swiss x EleVen by Venus Williams Limited Edition capsule includes one footwear release, the K-Swiss Classic 66 X EleVen by Venus Williams, as well as an assortment of preppy apparel. Items include the MVP Varsity Jacket, Prep Rally Hoodie and School Spirit Sports Bra, as well as a sweater, pair of joggers, tops and leggings. The collection went on sale in November with prices topping out at $298 for the jacket.
Williams founded EleVen by Venus Williams in 2007. Largely focused on women’s tennis and everyday apparel, the brand branched out last year to partner with Credo Beauty, debuting a line of mineral-based SPF products. The four-time Olympic gold medalist also founded V Starr, a full-service commercial and residential interior design firm.
Williams’ K-Swiss partnership arrives months after another well-known tennis star debuted a new footwear release of his own. Roger Federer teamed up with Swiss performance brand On to drop the Roger Centre Court in July last year. The sneaker, designed to reimagine the classic tennis shoe, swapped out the typical thick sole for a silhouette more suitable for everyday comfort and wearability. The Roger was also crafted from vegan leather, with an environmental footprint just 30 percent of animal leather’s impact.
Last month, Nike and Comme des Garçons partnered to honor rising tennis star Naomi Osaka. An extension of Comme des Garçons and Switch Publishing designating the three-time Grand Slam champion one of its “People of the Year,” the Nike x Naomi Osaka x CDG Blazer featured a neutral color scheme with the tennis star’s signature on the shoe’s quarter panel. A print graphic repeating the tennis star and Japanese fashion label’s names covered the shoe’s upper.