adidas, the iconic sportswear brand, today dazzles with its Fall/Winter 2023 New York collection, a magnificent tribute to a trailblazing tennis titan who redefined the boundaries for her successors.
Drawing inspiration from the very court where Billie Jean King stood tall, challenging and changing tennis conventions, the collection boasts the standout SST Jacket and the avant-garde Avacourt shoe. Both are swathed in a striking blue, reminiscent of King’s iconic ensemble during her legendary “Battle of the Sexes” match. This bold blue story runs seamlessly through the range, binding each piece with a narrative thread of history, resilience, and breakthrough.
The SST Jacket, bearing semblance to the adidas tennis tracksuits of yore, encapsulates the spirit of an era where King dominated both the court and cultural discourse. Meanwhile, the Avacourt, which initially graced the stage in 2022, seamlessly marries present-day designs with motifs from 50 years ago. This year’s iteration beautifully integrates features like a retro suede leather tongue and a synthetic suede toe guard, evoking a nostalgic yet modern aesthetic.
Commenting on the collection, top-tier tennis professional Jessica Pegula noted, “Tennis history shows that greatness is never defined by gender. It hasn’t always been easy to choose this path – players like Billie Jean King had to fight for the right to be on the same court as men and gain respect from fellow players. I’m proud to be an advocate for gender equality in sport – both on and off the court.”
This collection also showcases other standout items such as the Tennis Modular Leotard AEROREADY Pro with a detachable skirt, the versatile Tennis Transformative AEROREADY Dress Pro, and the Tennis Reversible AEROREADY Match Skirt Pro paired with the Tennis HEAT.RDY Short Tight Pro. For men, highlights include the Tennis HEAT.RDY Freelift Polo Shirt Pro, the Tennis Reversible AEROREADY Freelift T-Shirt Pro, and the Tennis AEROREADY 2 IN 1 Short Pro.
This line will debut at the premier hard-court tournament, adorning athletes like Xinyu Wang, Dana Mathewson, Jessica Pegula, Maria Sakkari, Elina Svitolina, Karolína Muchová, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger Aliassime, and Martin de la Puente.
Priced at €75 / $80, the SST Jacket in Team Royal Blue is available in sizes ranging from 2XS to 2XL. The blue Avacourt shoe, priced at €150 / $150, comes in sizes UK 3.5-10. Both items are already accessible on adidas.com and the adidas app starting August 14th.
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