Ralph Lauren’s Post

Continuing to explore the universal design features already existing in performance wear through talks like this one I did with the Adaptive Sports Coalition at UT Southwestern Medical Center. So many great audience questions around adaptive apparel and my work! If you are part of an organization that would benefit from a talk or workshop on adaptive apparel, please reach out to me or Vollbrecht Adaptive Consulting!

Interesting Big Tech censorship note; when you search XX-XY Athletics on DuckDuckGo its website is the second entry on the page. But when you do the same search on Google it is way off the bottom of the page as the 10th entry (with a lot of non-entries pushing it down further off the page). Always keep in mind that the good (and oh so superior) folks at Google (and Facebook and LinkedIn, etc.) are always managing the information they permit you to consume.

In the dynamic interplay between the worlds of sports and fashion, few have left an indelible mark as distinctly as legends like George Best and David Beckham. Best, with his flamboyant style and charisma, not only dazzled on the football pitch but also set trends off it, becoming the quintessential fashion-forward sportsman of his era. Beckham, following in those pioneering footsteps, transcended his sport to become a global fashion icon, influencing trends and inspiring collaborations between sports and luxury fashion brands. These luminaries exemplified how sports personalities could shape global fashion sensibilities, paving the way for the next generation of athletes. Stateside, the influence of sportsmen on fashion trends takes on a distinct flavour, especially in the realm of accessories like sunglasses. Their off-field appearances in tailored suits and luxury brands redefine masculinity and style, inspiring fans to blend sportiness with elegance. Partnerships with fashion labels further cement their role as trendsetters in the fashion world. The 58th Superbowl was perhaps the most celebrity filled sports event of all, both on and off the field. Read our blog to find out which styles this year’s stars sported. https://lnkd.in/eSq3VH_C #celebrity #superbowl #nfl #49ers #chiefs #usher #

Thirty years. 🎈 Crazy, right? Maybe it doesn’t seem that wild to you—plenty of brands have existed for more than a few decades—but to us, this is special. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but it’s not easy for a media company to hang around these days. So far, we’ve done it. And to be honest, we’re damn proud of it, so we’re going to celebrate TF out of it this year. That celebration kicks off with this issue. We devoted the majority of our new issue to recognizing a group of players who helped SLAM become what it is today. It’s technically not 30 individual players, but rather 30 entries, with a few entries including people who needed to be acknowledged together (Q-Rich and D-Miles; the Ball Brothers; you get it). And then we compiled 30 young players we think have a chance to be on the next version of this list, because we always look forward while we celebrate the past. Speaking of that celebration, we’ve got a lot more coming this year. We don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say it includes IRL events, sneaker collabs, apparel collabs, digital content, an amazing new print product and more. In other words: the celebration will hit every single thing we do. We’re putting our full energy behind this anniversary, because in our world, 30 years is no joke. Get SLAM 248 here: https://lnkd.in/e37HPRJj Read the "30 Players Who Defined SLAM's 30 Years" list here: slam.ly/30-list

🏀✨ Introducing the Nike RISE 'House of Mamba' LED court! ✨🏀 To all those who still think that the LED- court/floor is a groundbreaking innovation in the basketball world, I'm sorry to disappoint you 😞 #NIKE, as one of the great #pioneers in the sports business, had already introduced this floor in 2014, and who better to present it than the one and only #KobeBryant aka #blackmamba Back then, our creative team was already in discussions with the #manufacturer in Asia regarding possibilities in Europe and developing a concept, but as I mentioned in my previous post, we weren't quite there yet in Europe ☹ Now I see it slowly more and more in the post and I had to smile about the slow development and had to mention this development in my post yesterday as an "example". The good news is that we now also have a manufacturer in Europe 😊 and things are finally progressing. So, please don't take my post from yesterday too seriously 😉 Even after more than 10 years, I'm still very enthusiastic about the #LEDFLOOR, and we have some concepts ready in the pipeline, complete with technical refinements to elevate the entire experience 😉 And for those who want to ascend one step higher with us, we have something very special in store.   So, if your company is interested in #unique and enduring #projects with a return on investment, I suggest we schedule a meeting 😉 #NIKE #RISE #HouseofMamba #LEDcourt #Innovation #Basketball #KobeBryant #BlackMamba #Technology #Creativity #Projects #LEDFLOOR #Investment #BusinessDevelopment #Collaboration #returnoninvestment #houseofmamba

I'm giving away Roseblooms in honor of the Bad Hat Fit Holy Grail: the National Football League (NFL) Draft. Once you see #HeadwearDiscrimination, you can't unsee it and it's impossible to miss on Draft Day. We're playing for points (that don't actually matter) and for Rosebloom Headwear giveaways, so join in the (educational) fun. Help bring awareness to #UnconsciousBias and how it has led to #Racism and #Misogyny in headwear. Check out the points and info on my last post: https://lnkd.in/e74htBF8 #RepresentationMatters. And it doesn't look like Justin Fields was being represented very well here by the Chicago Bears - who were not to blame for their headwear buying options. Rosebloom Headwear is the only #InclusiveHeadwear brand and the only brand expertly designing hats for hair. #Hats #CategoryDesign #SmallBusiness #DEI #Equity

Yesterday, a statue was unveiled. A tribute to a legend whose legacy transcends the court – Kobe Bryant. But in the shadow of this homage, a profound message looms larger, quite literally, on the billboards above: “The statue is down there. The bar is up here.” What I found most fascinating about Nike bold statement isn't just about a brand positioning itself in the physical space near the Los Angeles Lakers tribute to an icon; it's a metaphor for aspiration, for every entrepreneur, every dreamer, every go-getter out there. The message? Don’t just aim to achieve. Aim to surpass. To innovate beyond the accolades and the "set in stone" achievements. Your potential isn’t static like a statue; it’s dynamic, like the ever-rising bar of excellence. So here’s the question for you today: Are you looking down at where the statue stands, or are you looking up at where the bar is set? #Innovation #Excellence #Motivation #Legacy

In this post I will answer the two questions you have for me.  Answer No. 1: “Yes, I’m loving Reed Smith and I’m happy I made the move.” Answer No. 2: “Yes, I miss Covington." Both of those two things can be true. It’s like wave–particle duality. Sort of. Or maybe it’s not like that. What is that thing called when two things seem irreconcilable, but are not? Anyway, it’s like that. This post is pretty thin when it comes to professional puffery and deracinated lawyers rarely make for compelling social media content. If you’re still reading this, you’re not “networking” on a Monday morning, you’re goofing off.  Here’s how I know.  The video at the link is the greatest TV commercial of all time. It’s basketball themed, and it’s March, so g’head and watch it. And don’t fight me in the comments about whether this 11-year old Nike ad is the “greatest” or simply one of the greatest. It’s a masterpiece of the advertiser’s art, and we can just leave it at that. #generativeAI, #videogamelaw, #esports, #esportslaw, #waveparticleduality, #reedsmith, #covington, #threebodyproblem, #videogames

Listening to Rich Paul, founder of KLUTCH SPORTS GROUP, LLC, talk about the "signature" shoe world. Many athletes jump out and feel like they must have their own shoe in order to sign with a company. But Rich advises that in order to have a signature shoe, the player must have a business plan. The shoe game is crowded and without a proper business strategy, the world of signature shoes could turn out to just be a vanity project. While SGA could be the "next" signature athlete, deals like Under Armour x Joel Embiid have not maximized opportunities in this space. Yet others like Nike x Sabrina Ionesco recently have trended positive. Sports Business Classes - - What should be next in the sneaker world for SGA? Who have the most lucrative sneaker deals in the National Basketball Association (NBA)? What are the potential downsides to a signature shoe? Leaving Converse as a free agent means SGA can sign where he wants - what brand would make the most sense, be the best match? Thanks Sports Business Ventures - this is an interesting one to think about. University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business Temple University's School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management Fox School of Business at Temple University Portland State University - School of Business UCLA Anderson School of Management The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business UO Sports Product Management Master’s Program #sportsbusiness #signatureshoe #sportsbiz #sportsmarketing #sportsmanagement #Sportsbizprof #shoegame

Tiger Woods Unleashes 'Sun Day Red' - A New Era in Sports Style! Tiger Woods, the golf legend, is making headlines with the launch of his brand-new clothing line, 'Sun Day Red'. Beyond golf, it's a lifestyle collection featuring everything from stylish polos to comfy hoodies and outerwear. More than just apparel, Sun Day Red represents a fusion of style and athleticism. While the initial releases cater to men, the brand also has plans for for women and kids. Sporting icons like NFL's Josh Allen and NBA's Blake Griffin are already expressing their admiration, with comedian Will Arnett also eager to be part of the action. This marks the end of Tiger's 27-year partnership with Nike, paving the way for a bold solo venture. Sun Day Red isn't just about golf; it's a statement in sports fashion, redefining the game. Sun Day Red's first signature line hits shelves on May 1 in the United States and Canada. The anticipation is building, and we can't wait to see the impact on the sports apparel industry! #tigerwoods #nike #sundayred #golf #sportsnews