With the U.S. Open right around the corner, and you know how I love tennis. It was time to take a look at an upcoming player who is also starting a new jewelry line. I got the opportunity to talk to her about tennis and the new line.
For Danielle Collins, education and inspiration has been the bedrock of her life in pursuit of a career as a professional tennis player. The 25-year-old found her game on the public courts of St. Petersburg, Florida, her voice as a two-time NCAA champion at the University of Virginia, and her platform as one of the top American talents on the WTA Tour. After breaking into the Top 100 for the first time in 2018, Collins is now the World No.25, having pulled off a stunning run to the semifinals of the Australian Open in January.
Danielle Collins has partnered with Ritani. This is the first jewelry collection for Ritani with a pro tennis player. She describes her jewelry designs as fine, FUNctional, & timeless, and included in the line are diamond tennis bracelets necklaces, earrings and more. In earrings, look for modern, geometric studs accented by diamonds along with boho-chic ear crawler designs, while necklaces include simple and elegant multi-diamond drops as well as whimsical initial letters and shapes. Settings are ensconced in 14K yellow or white gold and retail prices range from $240-$6,000. Lookbook can be found here: https://v1.ritani.com/collections/danielle-collins-jewelry-x-ritani
1. What do you love about playing tennis?
I love being a competitor and the way tennis makes you problem solve on your own. I’ve always been an independent person, and that was one of the reasons I was attracted to the game at a young age. I’m extremely competitive on court and off the court, and love playing in the big moments when the score gets close.
2. What inspired you to create this line?
My biggest inspiration when creating this line was to make jewelry that is fun and celebrates the uniqueness of people’s own individual identities. One of my favorite pieces that is offered this season is a simplistic initial necklace. It is dainty, but it is bold. This specific piece allows women to express who they are, and that’s what I love about jewelry. Through jewelry we can uniquely express ourselves.
3. Who did you idolize growing up?
Growing up, I idolized the Williams sisters the most. I love who they are not only as competitors but I love what they stand for when it comes to equality, female empowerment, and helping those who are in need. Their story really resonated with me personally. I grew up in a lower income household, and grew up hitting on the backboard in public parks. I remember watching them on television when I was little and being so fascinated with how they not only were incredible tennis players, but also smart, worldly, admirable business women.
4. What are you hoping to accomplish in your career?
I hope to be the best tennis player that I can possibly be. I would love to be number one in the world some day and win a grand slam. Aside from that I have other aspirations off the court, and want to be just as successful when it comes to running my businesses.
5. How are you going to improve on the line and do you plan to have any fellow players where the line?
As I mentioned before, my biggest inspiration when creating this line was to offer jewelry that celebrates people’s uniqueness and individual identities. With that, I would like to offer a personalization factor for my customers. The way I first discovered my passion for jewelry was when I started adding my own little twist on necklaces and bracelets. I would find myself adding a little birthstone, an initial, or number to certain pieces I had purchased. I loved being able to customize pieces for my self expression, and I know other jewelry lovers do too. Sometimes when we add the little things here and there, the pieces become even more special. Ritani only uses the best quality materials, and so these necklaces, bracelets and earrings are pieces that people can hold on to for the rest of their lives. So I hope to improve on allowing my customers to have the opportunity to add their own customized touches to their jewelry.
Be sure to check out the line and look for Danielle on the Court in New York
