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I posted about New York Knick Stephon Marbury partnering with Steve & Barry’s to make an affordable sportswear line (think sneakers under $15). Now Venus William has brought her fashion sense and celebrity to the budget effort. Steve & Barry’s has also added launched signature shoes/fashion lines by Chicago Bulls center Ben Wallace, PGA golfer Bubba Watson and Actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Amanda Bynes.
New York Knick fans and critics are a cranky bunch and are as likely to boo their team as to cheer. This is especially true when it comes to Knick’s star Stephon Marbury who is often viewed as an uncoachable ballhog. But Marbury’s $17 million salary hasn’t made him forget growing up in Coney I… [More]
Every item in the 120-piece collection — dubbed "EleVen" — will be priced at $19.98 and under. The line includes everything from the tennis star's signature "V-Court" sneaker ($14.98) to t-shirts, street apparel, gym bags and jewelry.
Williams is on track to graduate with a degree in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in December. She's had her hand in every aspect of EleVen, from picking out materials to selecting in-store advertising. Today's budget-focused consumer, says Williams, needs a lower-priced alternative.
"I've always wanted to do clothes that are accessible to everyone. No matter what their income or lifestyle. So for me, this is the right place to be," Williams said in an interview Tuesday.The current Wimbledon champion is the latest celebrity to join forces with Steve & Barry's, which now operates 220 stores across the U.S. New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury shook up the sneaker business by launching his $14.98 "Starbury" shoe through the fast-growing chain in 2006.
The question for purists is whether athletes get the same safety and performance out of a $15 sneaker as a high-tech $125 shoe. Williams says she's worn her V-Court sneaker and EleVen outfits on the court since the U.S. Open. Marbury also wears his basketball shoe during NBA games. "It's not a question of can we. We do," she says.
(usatoday)
References: news.yahoo, usatoday
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