Dezeen Magazine

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

Virgil Abloh and Nike to dress Serena Williams for the US Open

Fashion designer Virgil Abloh has teamed up with Nike to design tennis player Serena Williams' kit for this year's US Open, which includes a black ballerina-style dress, a bomber jacket and tagged "Queen of Queens" sneakers.

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

Abloh and the sports brand designed The Queen Collection for Williams (only pictured in the top image) to wear on- and off-court during the US Open Tennis Championships, which takes place in New York borough Queens later this month.

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

The collection comprises two dresses, a bomber jacket, three sneakers and a bag, and is described by Abloh as "blurring the lines of sport and fashion" in a post on his Instagram account.

"With Serena, we have one of our generation's most powerful, inspiring athletes as the muse," added a statement from the designer, who heads up fashion labels Off-white and Louis Vuitton. "I was trying to embody her spirit and bring something compelling and fresh to tennis."

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

Breaking away from the traditional white tennis kit, the dresses come in black and purple, and have a "ballerina-esque silhouette" that draws on Williams' interest in dance. A tulle skirt flares out from the waist to allow for easy movement.

"What I love about tennis is the gracefulness," said Abloh. "It's an aggressive and powerful game, but it takes touch and finesse."

"So the dress is feminine, but combines her aggression," he continued. "It's partially revealing. It's asymmetrical. It has a sort of ballerina-esque silhouette to symbolise her grace."

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

The skin-tight upper portion has mismatching arm lengths – one is full length while the other is short – and a flesh-toned section to make it look as if it is off-the-shoulder. The ensemble is made out of mesh to keep her cool while playing in New York's summer humidity.

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

Additional quirks added to the clothing include the word "logo" emblazoned in capital letters and quotation marks above the Nike tick on the breast. "SERENA" is also written on the arms, following Abloh's signature quotation-style slogans that he added to his recent designs, such as his homeware for furniture brand IKEA.

White stitching runs along the edges of the button-up black jacket, which Williams will wear off-court, and also forms diagonal markings across the front and the arms. A pair of white arrows adorn each of the cuffs and other features include a strap that crosses over the front.

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

"It's not about bells and whistles and tricks," Abloh added. "It's just about it living on the body, and expressing Serena's spirit with each swing of the racket."

Among Williams' pick of three sneakers is an updated version of the NikeCourt Flare 2, which were first designed for the tennis champion in 2016.

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

The other two are updates of the footwear featured in Abloh's The Ten – a collection of 10 Nike footwear classics that he reimagined last year.

For Williams, Abloh has once again adapted the Nike Air Max 97 and Nike Blazer Mid SW, adding "SERENA" slogans, and pink and purple hues. Text on the tags that have become a recognisable feature of Abloh's designs read "Queen of Queens", as a reference to her dominance of the sport and the event's location.

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike

Nike – which is currently constructing a building named after Williams at its headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon – is planning to roll out items from the collection in selected US stores to coincide with the event, which commences on 27 August 2018 and runs until 9 September 2018.

This year's US Open Tennis Championships marks the 50th edition of the tournament and will also see the unveiling of the new logo designed by New York branding and graphics firm Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv, as well as the opening of a new tennis court: the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing, Queens.

More images

The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike
The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike
The Queen Collection by Virgil Abloh and Nike