Some athletes pose for apparel lines synonymous with his or her sponsor's name brand. Others, like tennis great Roger Federer and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, are so big-time that they create their own lines.
Count J.J. Watt in the latter category. On Tuesday, the star Houston Texans defensive end launched the J.J. Watt Collection in collaboration with Dallas-based menswear brand Mizzen+Main, of which is he is a brand ambassador.
His namesake apparel line, which is available online, currently boasts eight types of shirts: six dress and two polo styles that easily transition from formal to casual, all designed in a patriotic red, white, and blue color palette. Prices range from $80 to $145.
"J.J. is not only a brand ambassador for Mizzen+Main, he has truly become a part of our core team. It felt very fitting for him to design a collection for the brand,” says founder and CEO Kevin Lavelle in a release. “We ended up with an amazing collection of shirts with which we are thrilled to have J.J. Watt’s name alongside ours.”
The collection is near and dear to Watt's heart, as each shirt is named for an important place in his life. Park Hill salutes the street Watt's grandfather lived on, and two shirts are named for apartment complexes — Louis Avenue and East Sutton — where Watt slept in friends' living rooms when first starting out in the NFL.
Other names include Bend Creek (the first street Watt lived on in Houston), Lake Street (a main street in Watt's hometown of Waukesha, Wisconsin), and Foxwood (the street where Watt lived as a kid). Springdale and Steeplechase are neighborhoods in Wisconsin.
"I take pride in how I look and dress when I’m off the field, which is why I started working with Mizzen+Main years ago," says Watts in the release. "Their dress shirts both look sharp and keep me comfortable, the perfect combo. Getting in the design room and launching my own collection was a natural next step, and I’m proud of how the collection turned out."
Jackets and slacks are planned to be added to the collection at a later date.
J.J. Watt models the Bend Creek shirt from his new line. Bend Creek is the first street Watt lived on in Houston.
