Serena Williams unveils 'Design Crew' collection with Nike showcasing diversity of Los Angeles designers; earns Coco Gauff, Taylor Townsend's support
Serena Williams and Nike unveiled a new 'Design Crew' collection showcasing Los Angeles designers' diversity. She received support from American players Coco Gauff and Taylor Townsend.
Williams and Nike first teamed up in 2019 to launch the 'Serena Williams Design Crew' (SWDC) apprenticeship program, to promote diversity in design. The inaugural collection featured designers from New York, followed by a collaboration with Chicago-based designers.
Now, for their latest collection, they’ve partnered with talented designers from Los Angeles. Williams took to Instagram and uploaded images of the apparel and footwear designed in collaboration with those designers. She captioned the post:
"These designs were created by a group of diverse designers with fantastic ideas. I love bringing them to Life!"
The 23-time Grand Slam winner earned the admiration of a few current players, with World No. 6 Coco Gauff liking her post.
World No. 52 Townsend commented on the post:
"LOVE ❤️🔥"
Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs also commented on the post:
"You know my size!"
“I’m excited to continue my partnership with Nike and proud to provide emerging Los Angeles designers a platform to explore their craft and bring a touch of our dynamic LA edge to sport style in an influential way,” Williams said (via Nike).
The 2024 SWDC collection consists of the Victory Tech sneaker, blending retro aesthetics with modern style. The design is inspired by iconic Los Angeles architecture, while a personal message from Serena is featured on the inside.
The collection includes a bold, cutout tank top and mid-rise shorts, as well as a baseball-inspired top and pant set with vertical stripes. An oversized bomber jacket brings a cool varsity look, while still being lightweight and comfortable.
Serena Williams praises Coco Gauff for her tennis IQ: "I think she really uses her brain out there"
Serena Williams visited the US Open this year in high spirits. The six-time winner also had a chat with ESPN's Mary Joe Fernandez during the broadcast of Coco Gauff's fourth-round clash against Emma Navarro. Williams praised Navarro's "variety" and her "tennis IQ." She was also impressed by Gauff's tennis IQ.
"Coco also has a massive tennis IQ," Serena Williams stated. "I think she really uses her brain out there. I think she can really rely on her serve; obviously, her movement is great ... and I just love her mental toughness and her mental fortitude."
Navarro emerged victorious in the battle at the Flushing Meadows and went on to lose in the semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka.
Meanwhile, Gauff, whose title defense ended early, recently, parted ways with her coach Brad Gilbert. The 20-year-old will next participate in the China Open.