Afterpay's Arthur Ashe Tennis Apparel Collab Ignites U.S. Open Fever

The U.S. Open is well underway as the world’s best players take to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to compete in the final Grand Slam tournament of the year. Afterpay is joining in on the fun with a custom capsule commemorating trailblazers who’ve forever shaped the sport. Capturing the tennis fever currently taking over Flushing Meadows, New York, Afterpay partnered with Arthur Ashe to create a custom capsule spotlighting the tennis legend of the same name. The collection includes a hoodie, a T-shirt, headwear and smaller accessories, like a water bottle and tennis balls for practicing enthusiasts of the sport.

Afterpay’s Dropshop democratizes the frenzied landscape of drop culture, from coveted streetwear releases to exciting artist collaborations, providing millions of consumers instant access to highly sought-after brands, retailers and up-and-coming designers. The ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ solution platforms trailblazers in fashion challenging the status quo while bringing unique purchasing opportunities to style enthusiasts across the globe. This time around, Afterpay celebrates the career of Arthur Ashe, a tennis star and fervent champion of civil rights and social justice issues pertaining to education, public health and youth access to sports. The Arthur Ashe brand carries the torch and legacy of the late athlete, who remains the only Black American male to win the U.S. Open Championship and singles titles at Wimbledon.

Photographer and graphic artist Jeanne Moutoussamy, the Arthur Ashe estate, Rowing Blazers’ creative director and founder Jack Carlson and art director Karl-Raphael Blanchard are the driving forces behind the lifestyle brand, ensuring Arthur Ashe’s legacy continues to inspire new generations. From an aesthetic standpoint, the namesake label also expresses nostalgic ‘70s-inspired whimsy through bold color palettes, subverting classic tennis silhouettes with funky detailing and contemporary graphical designs that pay homage to Ashe’s iconic fashion identity on and off the court.

Highlights of the Arthur Ashe x Afterpay capsule include a co-branded hoodie. The front panel features the classic Arthur Ashe logo, and on its backside, custom chenille patches commemorate Ashe’s titular Grand Slam Titles in 1968, 1970 and 1975. This theme reappears on the collection’s T-shirt, adorned with blue lettering on the front and back panels. Afterpay’s signature Bondi Mint tone hits the interior tags of each clothing item. Lifestyle essentials round out the collection, including a classic snapback hat, a monochromatic tote bag, and sporty on-the-go items like a reusable water bottle and tennis balls for those hitting the course.

Reveling in NYC’s tennis culture, Afterpay is gearing up for an experiential event at 41 Division St. on September 4 and September 5. Open to the public, shoppers will have a unique opportunity to view the Arthur Ashe x Afterpay capsule in person. Afterpay Dropshop is the exclusive retailer of the Arthur Ashe x Afterpay capsule through the Afterpay app and HBX website, where fans of the sport can officially shop the celebratory collection starting September 6.

Stay tuned on Hypebeast to see the reveal of the collection and Afterpay’s upcoming activation at 41 Division St. in NYC on September 4.