As a die-hard fashion enthusiast with a soft spot for sports and culture, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the launch of TUNL! The creative genius behind this project, Ashley Champ, is not just making waves in the industry but creating a tsunami that will surely reshape the intersection of sports, fashion, and pop culture.
Artistic collective Studio Versus is partnering with acclaimed creative director Ashley Champ for the debut of TUNL, a new venture that we’ve exclusively gained insight into from The Hollywood Reporter.
TUNL is an interdisciplinary media and e-commerce platform that brings together sports, style, and culture under one roof, as stated in a press release. Inspired by the fitting rooms athletes use (known as “tunnel fits”), this platform aims to consolidate sports and fashion content, commerce, and community through partnerships with designers and organizations, as well as an online marketplace. The company’s goal is to create a bridge between luxury fashion and streetwear, making trendy clothing more affordable for the average consumer.
To mark its debut, the platform plans to hold the first-ever TUNL Gala, an exciting event where professional athletes, fashion designers, and trend influencers gather. This collaboration with Spotify is scheduled during New York Fashion Week, and it promises a “tunnel walk,” exclusive lounge areas for various sports, and a marketplace showcasing collaborative merchandise from TUNL.
Champ highlights that while athletes have been venturing into the world of fashion at high-profile events such as the Met Gala, TUNL events offer an accessible and relatable shopping experience for everyday consumers. The creative director emphasizes the growing interest among young people in streetwear styles.
Champ expresses to The Hollywood Reporter, “Each year, there should be an occasion where both athletes and designers get their moment in the spotlight. This fusion of events now allows fans to engage, purchase the clothes athletes wear, and even embrace fashion created by these designers since streetwear has become a relatable and everyday phenomenon.”
Lenny Santiago, Senior Vice President at Roc Nation, serves as both a strategic consultant and business partner for TUNL. Furthermore, he’ll be the one to oversee the TUNL Gala event.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’m thrilled to be part of TUNL, a company that’s filling a gap in the market that’s been overlooked for too long. In this modern, digital age, we’ve witnessed athletes making a significant impact on luxury fashion, and now it’s our turn to do something similar within the gaming realm.
“Introducing our brand at New York Fashion Week places us smack-dab where fashion intertwines with culture. The moment couldn’t be better, as conversations about sports and fashion have never been more lively following the Olympic games and Vogue World. It’s evident that athletes aren’t just partaking in fashion—they’re spearheading it now. TUNL is here to amplify this movement by providing it with the attention and stage it requires.”
The platform and the TUNL Gala will focus on various types of sports. As seen during this year’s Olympics, all sports are significant, according to Champs when speaking with THR. She emphasized that it’s a worldwide topic and making it global while focusing on every sport was crucial.
On the team at the new platform, we have Les Green, the previous CEO of SLAM! and LeagueFits, serving as a strategic advisor. Brittany Hampton, a fashion consultant and athlete stylist, holds the position of creative strategy director for TUNL. Desyree Nicole, proprietor of Todd Patrick, serves as TUNL’s design director.
In contrast, the innovative studio known as Versus, established by ex-professional skateboarder Justin Barnes, plays the role of TUNL’s main investor and founding partner. Rob Meyers holds the position of Managing Director at TUNL, while Mark Grande assumes a dual role, acting both as executive producer for Versus and TUNL.
Beyond Spotify, TUNL Gala’s collaborators also include D’USSÉ, Unrivaled, Signet Jewelers + Zales. These partners will showcase their unique diamond-encrusted tennis rackets, designed especially for the US Open. THR serves as the event’s main media partner.
In addition, TUNL plans to contribute funds to the Have a Sol Foundation, an organization that offers new sneakers and clothing items to homeless individuals and low-income youth across various regions in the U.S. This donation signifies TUNL’s dedication towards uplifting local communities and ensuring everyone, irrespective of their financial status, can connect with the TUNL brand experience.
In the upcoming months, the TUNL platform is set to debut, featuring unique collaborations with Mifland, PINKFlamingoUSA x PRIX, as well as its own signature merchandise. This move signifies the company’s dedication to merging the realms of high fashion and streetwear, as stated in a recent announcement.
The TUNL Gala is scheduled to happen at Spring Studios in New York City, where a renowned Grammy-winning music producer will perform.
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2024-08-29 17:26