Taylor Swift, Simone Biles, Britney Mahomes, and Olivia Culpo. What do they all have in common, you might ask? Sure, they all have significant others who play in the NFL, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about. They have all sported the amazing fashion and designs of Kristin Juszczyk (pronounced “use check”), a rising force in the fashion industry and the wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
While Kristin Juszczyk has always designed her own game-day outfits and outfits for other wives and girlfriends on the 49ers through her local company, “The Origin Shop,” her designs this season have gone viral because high profile names have been sporting them. But more than her designs being applauded and celebrated, they have brought up the long-asked question of when the NFL and other sports leagues will create exclusive and appealing fan sportswear for the growing population of female fans.
I, like many, have frequently experienced frustration when shopping for the sporting merchandise of my favorite teams. Rather than finding designs that I am excited to purchase, the women’s section only ever features mediocre designs with shirts and sweatshirts that either have an unflattering V-neck or hourglass shape. Many have cited that sporting merchandise is a huge market for growth and profit, and the addition of enticing women’s designs can only add to that.
In the case of Erin Andrews, renowned NFL sports broadcaster and commentator, she took it upon herself to launch her own women’s sportswear line, “WEAR by Erin Andrews,” to address the gap in the market for women’s merchandise. Earlier this NFL season, when Taylor Swift sported a Kansas City Chiefs jacket from WEAR, the item sold out within minutes, leading to an uproar in the sales of all items in Andrews’ apparel line. Yes, anything that Taylor Swift wears often immediately sells out, but in doing so, she revealed a huge market of female sports fans who desire trendy clothing items.
Since the icy Kansas City playoff game against the Miami Dolphins, where Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes sported matching puffer jackets to rep Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, Kristin Juszczyk has gained over 600,000 followers on Instagram. And her list of celebrity clientele will not stop anytime soon, nor has it remained exclusive to women. Actor Taylor Lautner and NBA player Klay Thompson have recently been featured sporting Juszczyk’s exclusive pieces as well.
While Juszczyk has stated that she has received an influx of positive messages and requests for custom sportswear, she has highlighted that she cannot mass produce and sell anything that she has made yet. Legally, since her custom pieces involve repurposing items such as Nike jerseys, there are some technicalities involved in selling her designs to the masses. However, she has stated on her social media that she is working on making her designs and ideas accessible to the general public by potentially expanding her brand, “The Origin Shop,” or (even greater) partnering with the NFL and other apparel companies to bring alive the designs that women have been begging for years to have.
As an avid sports fan, the emphasis on women’s fashion in sports has reinvigorated my excitement to rep my favorite teams. With the rising popularity of designers such as Kristin Juszczyk, I am hopeful the NFL and other sports leagues will diversify fashion options for female fans. Lastly, I hope that Juszczyk’s work opens the door for future female designers whose passions intersect at sports and fashion design.