WTA Reveals Fashion Partnership

The WTA and the British Fashion Council has unveiled a unique partnership celebrating the strong connection between the stars of women’s tennis and the world of fashion.  

Through this one-of-a-kind project, a select group of WTA stars will be dressed in customised dresses, created specifically for them by British designers including Stella McCartney, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, Giles Deacon, Matthew Williamson, Richard Nicoll, Hussein Chalayan, and David Koma.

The aim of the WTA and British Fashion Council collaboration is to feature British designers, raise the off-court profile of the stars of women’s tennis, and extend the link between the sport and fashion.
 
Many of the designers will be accompanying the WTA stars to the annual pre-Wimbledon party – co-hosted for the sixth year in a row by the WTA and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group at Kensington Rooftop Gardens in London on 16th June, 2011 – and show off their creations to the global media.  

The dresses will be auctioned off during Wimbledon with the proceeds to be equally split between WTA charities and the British Fashion Council’s Princess of Wales Charitable Trust.  
 
Stacey Allaster, chairman and CEO of the WTA, said: ‘The WTA’s partnership with the British Fashion Council provides our players with a unique opportunity to work with some of London’s most talented creative minds’.

‘Women’s tennis has always had a link to the fashion of the time, and we are very pleased to be able to collaborate with the British Fashion Council to share our players’ interest in fashion and style with some of the world’s best fashion designers’.

The designer-player partnerships have been established based on the cultural similarities or previous working relationships of players with certain fashion personalities. 

World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, the face of adidas by Stella McCartney, will continue her collaboration with Stella – while five-time Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams will wear a special dress created for her by Burberry.

Additional designers involved in the project include Matthew Williamson (Ana Ivanovic), Vivienne Westwood (Jelena Jankovic), Mary Katrantzou (Samantha Stosur), Mulberry (Heather Watson), Temperley (Laura Robson), Richard Nicoll (Andrea Petkovic), and many others.