Sports Business with a Fashion twist.
Brendon Babenzien took over as Men's Creative Director at J.Crew. This caught my eye as a fella who loves to wear a tie and leans toward preppy over streetwear when it comes to fashion-sense. Brendon is leads his own brand Noah. Why is this significant in Sports Business??? Well, I am reaching a bit but when I explored Noah I discovered a great deal of athletic apparel. Running gear that crossed over into an athletic space with a fashion edge. Running is a sport that "runs" the gamut from elite athletes to casual participants. Running clubs have sprouted up in all walks of life including many creatives and "edgier" groups who are not afraid to mix high fashion with athletic gear. They don't want to look like they are arriving at the track for big workout. They want to have an element of self expression with a performance twist.
There are many brands who are leaning into this space. Fusing high fashion with sport to deliver products to a consumer who is demanding that unique look first with a side order of not compromising performance.
While this Running example is very straightforward, athletes are pushing limits combining fashion and sport. Whether it be on the court, pitch, or field or during the ever visible "tunnel walks" as players arrive to the venue - Fashion is important to athletes. The crossover relationship between sport and fashion is ever-present. So much so, this week Louis Vuitton named LeBron James as a face of the SPSU24 Collection. LeBron will certainly be providing that crossover appeal.
In Sports Business class - Let's discuss the relationship between fashion and sport. Why do they need each other? How can both sides benefit and what is the impact to core consumers in each space? Can they ever live independently?
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