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Serena Williams and Her Nike Design Crew Debut Their First Collection

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Disclosure: This is not a compensated or sponsored post. I was provided the product for review purposes only. All opinions expressed here are my own.

BE PART OF THE LEGACY

Serena Williams continues to cement her legacy as one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game. This bodysuit immortalizes every year she’s won a grand slam on the smooth tape down each side. An asymmetrical turtleneck overlay and artfully incorporated breathability exemplify the craft and creativity that characterize the 10 designers behind the Serena Design Crew.

  • Victory List: Beginning with her first win in 1999, the tape along the sides lists every year that Serena Williams has won a grand slam.
  • Versatile Design: Stretchy knit fabric hugs your curves as you move. The turtleneck overlay covers one arm, creating an asymmetrical look you can wear on its own or as a layer. Plus, the snap closure makes for easy on and off.
  • Built to Breathe: Perforations and a cut-out in the back increase airflow to help you stay cool.

Serena Design Crew

The Serena Design Crew is a group of 10 emerging New York City designers handpicked by Serena Williams to tell the story of her incredible career. This collection of footwear, and apparel celebrates craft, creativity, and the art of dreaming—while honoring each artist’s diverse background and promoting diversity and inclusion.

Background on SWDC:

  • In 2019, Nike and Serena Williams partnered to create the Serena Williams Design Crew (SWDC), a design apprenticeship program to promote diversity in design and establish a new generation of design talent — at Nike and beyond.

 

  • The six-month+ SWDC apprenticeship program brings together a group of talented individuals (10 apprentices in year one, 11 apprentices in 2021) as a design collective annually and is part of a multi-year commitment between Nike and Serena Williams. Each year, the SWDC apprentices work together to produce a Serena-inspired collection of footwear, apparel. and accessories and centers on attracting talent from a major U.S. city and the surrounding metropolitan area: New York in year one, Chicago in year two and, recruitment for year three in Los Angeles is currently underway.

 

  • In January 2020, Nike welcomed the first SWDC to Nike‘s World Headquarters where they spent seven months working to produce  Serena-inspired footwear, apparel, and an accessories capsule collection of women’s performance and lifestyle products. This August, Nike introduced the first collection from the inaugural SWDC cohort, which seamlessly connects sport and culture while drawing upon 90s nostalgia. The new collection is currently available on Nike.com, and at Nike stores and select retailers.

 

  • The SWDC apprenticeship program includes a structured design curriculum built in partnership with Nike’s product design teams at Nike World Headquarters (WHQ), spanning footwear, apparel, accessories, color, materials, and 3D, along with curated Nike experiences and deep mentorship that together help develop a new generation of design talent.

 

  • The program model highlights how Nike is partnering with its roster of world-class female athletes to create deeper, more meaningful relationships that go beyond sport to create change and empower communities through action.

 

  • Following the initial SWDC apprenticeship program, Nike converted seven of the original 10 apprentices into full-time employees. The second group of 11 SWDC apprentices were inducted in May 2021 with the goal of helping to build their careers as designers within Nike (or elsewhere in the design industry).

 

  • The group’s incredible work and talent are on full display with this launch of the first collection!

 

  • The program continues to fuel the pipeline of diverse design talent at Nike and is currently recruiting for the 3rd cohort out of Los Angeles.

As the first collection debuts, the SWDC’s second cohort is working away on their Serena-inspired line, and applications are open for the third group. The promise of the partnership is that the clothing not only gives wearers the confidence of Williams but is made in collaboration with her determination, aesthetic, and care for supporting new talents.