# Athlete-Inspired Designer Sportswear Virgil Abloh & Nike Collaborate on a Line for Serena Williams By Kalin Ned | Published 2018-08-13 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/designer-sportswear References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/2018/8/virgil-abloh-serena-williams-nike-queen-collab-details) & [vogue](https://www.vogue.com/article/serena-williams-us-open-virgil-abloh-x-nike) An elegant and performance-driven designer sportswear collection is launched two weeks before Serena Williams' tennis match at the U.S. Open. The capsule, appropriately dubbed 'QUEEN,' boasts two dress designs, a bomber jacket, a bag, as well as special editions of the [Air Max 97](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-max-portal) and the Blazer Mid SW silhouette. The tennis-inspired designer sportswear boasts signature details that are integral to the [Nike](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-and-offwhite) and Virgil Abloh labels. First of all, the athletic dresses are decorated with OFF-WHITE's classic "LOGO" branding, the Nike [Swoosh](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/field-general-sneaker-1), as well as the world "SERENA" which personalizes the piece and directs its tribute. The elegant silhouettes of the garments communicate a sense of power and poise. Moreover, the designer sportswear collection's footwear boasts bright pink detailing in a colorful gradient midsole, adding a hint of delicate vibrancy to the upper. Photo Credits: Nike ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 80% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Hip Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/hipfashion) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Designer Sportswear Collection for Athletes:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for fashion brands to collaborate with top athletes to create high-performing and stylish sportswear collections. - **Personalized Sportswear for Icons:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for fashion brands to create personalized sportswear collections that pay tribute to iconic athletes. - **Colorful Gradient Midsoles:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for footwear brands to add colorful gradient midsoles to their designs for a touch of vibrancy. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion:** The designer sportswear collection highlights the opportunity for fashion brands to enter the lucrative activewear market. - **Athletic Footwear:** The collection's special edition Air Max 97 and Blazer Mid SW silhouettes are an opportunity for footwear brands to collaborate with athletic icons on limited-edition releases. - **Athletics:** Top athletes like Serena Williams and Virgil Abloh have the potential to influence the design and functionality of athletic apparel and accessories. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Collaborative Sportswear Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-and-offwhite.md) - [Athletic Wear Collabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nikeskims-collection.md) - [Elevated Fall Tennis Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/y3-fw25-tennis.md) - [Eye-Catching Modern Tennis Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modern-tennis-collection.md) - [Genderless Court-Ready Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/humanrace-4.md) - [Performance-Driven Tennis Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/feel-the-heat1.md) - [Makeup Artist-Crafted Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-max-dn-silhouette.md) - [Luxurious Sporting Statement Pieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/offwhite-co-wilson.md) - [Athlete-Honoring Limited Beer Cans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michelob-ultra-1.md)