PPB February 2020

Tennis Industry Association reporting 17.9 million players worldwide; a declining figure the Bleacher Report attributed to a dwindling number of college students playing tennis, a decrease in tournaments based in the U.S. and the lack of a breakthroughmale tennis star. But even if tennis hasn’t been attracting new players in droves, it has significantly influenced fashion since its inception. In 1873, a version of tennis known as “lawn tennis” was invented by Major Walter Wingfield inWales, UK. The sport was designed, in part, to complement women’s interest in croquet; at the time, court tennis was recognized as a male-only sport. Since bothmen and women could play lawn tennis together, the sport became seen as a way tomeet romantic suitors, according to Time , and later inspired a new fashion category. At the time, however, comfort andmobility were sacrificed tomaintain decorum. Women often wore corsets and floor-length skirts to play the game, while men wore flannel slacks and blazers. Other unusual wear alsomade its way to the court in subsequent years, from Spanish international tennis champion Lilí Álvarez’s fur coats in the 1920s, to Italian tennis player Lea Pericoli’s iconic tutu in 1964. Certainly— and thankfully—today tennis apparel has been transformed to garments that are relaxed, breathable and tailored specifically for the sport. When end users reach into their closets for a go-to tennis or golf staple, ensure it’s your client’s branded tee, tank or polo they’re grabbing. By adding a logo to a sharp, traditional polo, or a breezy tennis skort, you’re displaying your client’s message to other players and fans and keeping the brand buzz going. Here are some unique ways that branded golf and tennis apparel and wearables can be used: • When distributed during a sporting event, branded merch can serve as a memento, as well as a way to extend the promotion for as long as the wearer sports the product. • By choosing a polo in a corporate color or one related to a specific promotion and customizing it for a company’s corporate golf outing, you’re ensuring the brand is represented with a sleek and professional look. • By selecting premium golf or tennis apparel for teamwear, you’re providing players with a cohesive and clean, branded look that’ll help them get noticed for the right reasons. • Branded apparel and wearables can also be used to promote the release of related products, like video games. • Just like fans’ loyalty for their favorite sports and teams, there’s no limit to the potential and reach of promotional products in the worlds of tennis and golf. Front-Running Finds Made for days on the course or court, the Champion Visor is made of 100-percent cotton, pre-curved with a 2.25-inch crown. Featuring the Champion logo on the back-left panel, the visor is adjustable with a tri-glide buckle closure and plenty of room to imprint a logo. Available in black, navy, white and red scarlet (shown). Kati Sportcap / PPAI 113758, S5 / www.katisportcap.com A game day performance cap, The Game is made from 97-percent polyester and three-percent spandex, with an unstructured, low- profile, six-panel construction. Adjustable for a custom fit, the cap features a tri-glide buckle closure with a pre-curved visor and silver under-visor. Available in 12 colors, shown in white. Kati Sportcap / PPAI 113758, S5 / www.katisportcap.com | FEBRUARY 2020 | 27