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Tennis Fashions That 'Fit'
By Cynthia Sherman
For the coming seasons, apparel manufacturers will continue to stretch the boundaries between court time and off-court/fitness/cardio activities with pieces that have crossover appeal while using technical fabrics to help athletes perform better. The newest pieces reflect the growing trend in both fitness and fashion, combining the latest moisture- wicking performance fabrics and high-fashion patterns and colors.
Tail
| Tennis and fitness play nicely together in Tail’s newest multi-use apparel. Bright sparks of color — “just short of neon,” says Tail’s Brad Singer — are coming through, and new lines feature such colors as copper and pink, midnight blue, and “hot lava” (pink, black, and white). Tail, which is producing Cardio Tennis-specific clothing, has also introduced a cardio skort for the “hard-body girl.” For clothes that move easily between on- and off-court wear, the company also has “power capris” and a novelty “i” jacket with a place to hold an iPod. tailinc.com; 800-678-8245. |
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Le Coq Sportif
| Le Coq Sportif is back in the game with innovative, functional fashion-plus designs. Hot sellers for fall and winter are the men’s Polo in electric blue, black and “glow” coupled with black shorts in an absorbent pique 100 percent Poly QuickDry fabric. For the women, le Coq plays up the active theme in pink-lavender and “Dusk” (blue) shades with a color-block tank paired with a Dusk skirt in a moisture-wicking poly-lycra blend. Available through Polo at 877-229-6341. |
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Diadora
| Diadora employs Meryl microfiber DiaDry in its “EVS” (engineered venting system) fabrics, which is mesh located where the body produces the most heat. Colorways include pairing up yellows, blacks, oranges and grays, as well as updating traditional navy, red, and white hues. diadoraamerica.com; 800-252-5415. |
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Polo
| For fall, Polo brings out its RLX line featuring more technical poly-hybrid moisture-management fabrics and the Heritage line sporting the trademark polo pony. The fabrications are a rich, mercerized moisture-wicking cotton of navy, deep greens, white, and charcoal on the men’s side. 877-229-6341. |
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Bolle
| Bolle, whose apparel generally features a more “traditional” fit, introduces bright, active colors in more prints than ever before. Made of a poly/spandex, these outfits are moisture-wicking and feature fashion details such as mesh, unique trims, embroidery, and hardware. bolle.com; 800-222-6553 |
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Kaelin
| Kaelin does chic with its new Bijou and Stargazer collections, offering dazzling hues of blues and yellows and unique color blocking patterns. The garments are made from Meryl microfiber nylon, offering performance and moisture management. diadoraamerica.com; 800-252-5415. |
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LBH, Lily’s, and Wimbledon
| For LBH, Lily’s, and Wimbledon, spring is all about color and texture balanced with traditional whites. The LBH line plays up dynamic strong, high-contrast colors. The Lily’s line is more playful and feminine, emphasizing prints. And crisp, classic looks embody the Wimbledon collection. For men’s apparel, Wimbledon introduces an expanded line featuring knit polos, tees, woven shorts, and jackets in “G-Cool” performance fabrics, which LBH says puts the performance “at the fiber level.” lbhgroup.com; 800-421-4474 |
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Lejay
| Lejay’s new Cardio Tennis Heartbeat line for fitness/tennis features high-performance nylon lycra fabrics that are lightweight, quick-drying and designed to conform (without constricting) and move with the body. Available in Pink Synergy and Blue Synergy color combinations, pieces feature mesh and metallic details for the tank and Ace Border skirt with built-in shorts. lejay.com; 800-932-7535 |
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See all articles by Cynthia Sherman
About the Author
Cynthia Sherman is a contributing editor for Tennis Industry magazine.
