The Intersection of Sports & Fashion

In the world of fashion, Jacquemus can do no wrong. Creative Director and Designer, Simon Porte Jacquemus, proved this statement time and time again through his collaboration with Nike. In a highly anticipated 15-piece collection, released on the 27th of June, this Nike x Jacquemus collection has shone a light on the rise of athleisure’s presence in high fashion, two facets that have generally been kept separate. Whether the increase in demand for athletic wear has been spurred on by the spike in physical activity during the pandemic, or just a collective interest, is still up for debate. Nevertheless, athleisure wear seems to be digging its heels into the high fashion industry and may even be looking at a permanent placement.

There is definitely something to be said for the influence that athletes have had in the world of fashion. With an already massive platform, they have the ability to make a statement on the court, pitch, field, ice, etc. Some notable figures that have channelled their love for fashion through their profession include Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Russell Westbrook, and Ashlyn Harris - to name a few. By building relationships with notable designers and even creative directing their own fashion lines, athletes have enabled an increase in their fan base and have dipped their toes in a differing industry. Williams has been a constant invitee at the Met Gala for numerous years, being dressed by designers ranging from Oscar de la Renta to Versace. She has a close relationship with Donatella Versace, who dressed her for her attendance at the Royal Wedding in 2018. Hamilton is notorious for his outfits on the track and has said that he “uses his style to take the weight off the pressure to succeed.” In having a notable presence at numerous Paris Fashion Weeks, Met Galas, and runway shows, Hamilton has proven his love for fashion runs deeper than just his outfits.

Per the Business of Fashion, Lululemon has predicted strong earnings for 2022, and Nike has stated their strong quarterly revenue has been a result of the increase for athleticwear. Profit is not everything though, as these brands also have a duty to design with the Earth and its resources in mind. The BoF Sustainability Index has ranked sportswear’s performance in categories including, emissions, transparency, waste, and materials. Although the collective sportswear section ranked lower than the average brands, Puma ranked highest overall. Despite the fact that the consensus is there is no brand doing enough to create sustainably, Puma’s score of 49/100 is promising. In contrast, Fila’s score of 7/100 is grim and more reflective of the entirety of the industry. This is an area of improvement that both high fashion and athleisure must place a greater emphasis on if they plan on creating a positive and lasting impression on fashion.

If there is one thing that both the sports and fashion industry share, it is their lack of inclusivity in spaces that often require it the most. Although there have been enormous strides made to lessen the gap between those who are most accepted by the industry and those that are often dismissed, there is a constant battle to solidify an individual presence in a cutthroat space. There are hopes that the more inclusive athletic industry will rub off on high fashion, which has been notorious for sticking to the sample size, no matter the unrealistic expectations that it shoves down consumers’ throats. Jacquemus’ newest collection offers a glimmer of hope with Simon noting a certain importance on ensuring the collection is accessible for everyone, regardless of size. In addition, the prices of the collection span from $40 to $175 - a rare range for high fashion.

There is a huge market to exploit with athleisurewear’s introduction into high fashion, as it has been relatively untouched and undeveloped. Hopefully the Jacquemus x Nike collaboration can catapult comfortable high fashion with a reasonable price tag into popularity.