Naomi Osaka Partners With Nike To Release New Sportswear Collection
For her second apparel capsule with sportswear giant Nike, tennis phenom Naomi Osaka is expanding upon her popular debut collection with a new aesthetic line that highlights her versatility as an athletic star and dynamic woman.
The tennis star teamed up with Nike this time around for a series of pieces that features a variety of T-shirts, shorts, hoodies, a crop top and a mesh bodysuit. The collection aims to “uncover different corners” of Osaka’s personality.
In a statement sent exclusively to Blavity, the 23-year-old shared that being able to express her multicultural background in the curation of the capsule was a gratifying “personal experience.”
“My multicultural background is what grounds me, and being able to express that in creative ways is incredibly inspiring,” she said. “It’s a very personal experience to have a hand in designing what you’ll wear in front of millions of people. Or in a collection that has your name on it. I don’t take that for granted, and if it inspires just one girl to pick up a racket or play any sport, that’s a win.”
Though she is developing her footprint in the design and apparel industries, the tennis star is helping lead initiatives that she’s passionate about like her Play Academy, which works to support young girls from Black, Asian, and Latinx communities who are participating in sports activities.
“Naomi is showing up everywhere, not just in sports,” Carly Ellis, lead designer for NikeCourt, said. “She’s at the highest ranks of her sport, she speaks out on matters of social justice, and she’s committed to providing spaces for young girls to follow new role models. As designers, by watching her interact in these different corners of culture, we can embed a far-reaching versatility in the collection, whether that’s through the number of pieces or through the intricacies of the details. Naomi had a hand in the whole process.”
For the first time, Osaka’s NikeCourt Dress and the Air Zoom GP Turbo sneaker for the French Open will be available for sale. On Monday, the Naomi Osaka NikeCourt Dress and Air Zoom GP Turbo Naomi Osaka were released Monday and the NikeCourt Naomi Osaka Collection will release next month on June 17.
Earlier this month, the tennis star became the newest partner of healthy restaurant chain Sweetgreen, making her the youngest investor in the company, as Blavity previously reported. In a subsequent tweet, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion wrote that she frequents the restaurant “at least three times a week” as she’s going about her daily routine.
In a statement from Sweetgreen, the company said it’s ultimate vision for the partnership is to empower brands and athletes to advance how they discuss the importance of eating healthy, L.A. Biz reported.
“Sweetgreen is honored to partner with Naomi because she stands for what she believes in and uses her platform to educate and inspire the next generation,” a statement from the restaurant read.
The 23-year-old said she hopes that her message can motivate her younger followers to increase their physical and mental wellness through a proper diet.
“As an athlete, what I put into my body directly correlates to how I perform and eating delicious, healthy foods fuels my daily routine. I’m excited about the work we’re doing together to create a positive impact,” she said.