Serena Williams is much more than who she appears to be on the court. Over her career, she’s become a household name and beacon of resilience for athletes, Black women, and mothers alike. Following the birth of the Serena Williams Design Crew in 2019, an apprenticeship program with Nike promoting diversity in design, the two are launching their first ever apparel and footwear collection.
For the first six months of 2020, the first 10 apprentices in the SWDC worked on the collection that would later be comprised of bodysuits, tops, shorts, leggings and a range of footwear. The ensemble allowed the designers to flex their design skills in a way that showcased their subject’s intense career. The result is a series that weaves in personal elements like Williams’ 23 Grand Slam titles, metallic gold accents for her gold medal wins, her daughter’s initials, West African Kente inspired prints, and her personal signature.
As for the footwear, the group chose to elevate two iterations of the Court Legacy along with two colorways of the RYZ 365 2 and an Air Max Koko. The Court Legacy comes in an navy and red color scheme with Kente cloth motifs, as well as in black leather. The RYZ 365 2 feature the same color schemes as the Court Legacy, while the Air Max Koko comes with a thick black platform that gives a foundation for the cream experimental silhouette. The SWDC’s “10 4 01” logo is found throughout the collection as a celebration of “inclusivity, diversity, and the bond between individual and team.”
Learn more about the SWDC here. The entire Serena Williams Design Crew x Nike collection will be available September 1st via the Nike website and retail stores.
Serena Williams Design Crew x Nike Court Legacy
Color: Armory Navy/Summit White-Metallic Gold-Cinnabar
Style Code: DM8472-400
Release Date: September 1, 2021
Price: $80 USD
Serena Williams Design Crew x Nike Court Legacy
Color: Black/Metallic Gold-Summit White
Style Code: DJ1454-001
Release Date: September 1, 2021
Price: $80 USD
Serena Williams Design Crew x Nike RYZ 365 2
Color: Armory Navy/Summit White-Cinnabar-Metallic Gold
Style Code: DJ1518-400
Release Date: September 1, 2021
Price: $85 USD
Serena Williams Design Crew x Nike RYZ 365 2
Color: Black/Summit Whit-/Metallic Gold
Style Code: DJ1518-001
Release Date: September 1, 2021
Price: $85 USD
Serena Williams Design Crew x Nike Air Max Koko
Color: Summit White/Black/Metallic Gold
Style Code: DJ1453-100
Release Date: September 1, 2021
Price: $110 USD
