Venus Williams is back with her once defunct clothing line, EleVen by Venus Williams, four years after it was forced off shelves after retailer Steve & Barry's went bankrupt.
The new athletic line, unveiled for the first time yesterday, features a form-fitting dress, tops, bottoms and crop-top style bras. A men’s range under the same brand will feature T-shirts and shorts.
The former world No. 1 tennis player told journalists at Miami’s Bath Club that she was inspired by her love for ‘art and watercolour’, and has incorporated her own original prints into the Spring 2012 collection.
She has also added ‘unexpected extras’ into her designs, such as a small rose-gold metal charm which dangles from a selection of camisoles and tanks.
While the majority of the collection is spandex jersey and polyester, Williams has also designed some V-neck tees made from 100% jersey.
Having secured seven Grand Slam singles titles, the 31 year-old has obviously brought her passion for tennis to the drawing board. One print, which features the phrase, ‘Oh and Oh’, is a play on the game’s scoring system.
She is set to showcase an ensemble from her line in Miami this week when she competes in the Sony Ericsson Open.
While she remains one of the sport’s most successful and colourful fixtures, it seems Williams is determined to seek success in fashion too. She holds a degree in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and said she has always wanted to design ready-to-wear and sports apparel.
Williams added that although her younger sister Serena isn’t expected to wear her designs.
‘No, she’s got to wear Nike,’ she told journalists.
EleVen by Venus Williams will soon be available to budding tennis champions at department and speciality stores throughout the States.
But the ultimate goal? Ms Williams said: ‘Our next step is to show other players wearing it.’
