Esther Wallace, the visionary founder of Playa Society, is making waves once again in the world of women’s basketball.
Her latest endeavor sees the unveiling of the 2024 Summer Collection in collaboration with the WNBA, celebrating the remarkable athletes who have driven the sport’s growing popularity.
The collection, set to drop this summer, features a hoodie and T-shirt adorned with the bold statement:
“If You’re Just Now Tuning Into Women’s Basketball, We Told You So.”
This tagline epitomizes Wallace’s vision for Playa Society, highlighting her dedication to empowering female athletes.
“This collection honors those who laid the foundation for women’s basketball’s rise — the players, the creators — everyone who recognized our greatness and worked tirelessly to showcase it,” Wallace expressed.
Wallace’s journey into apparel design began in her youth, fueled by her passion for basketball.
As a former player herself, she sought to make an impact on the sport through fashion rather than coaching. After returning to the U.S. from playing overseas and pursuing her master’s degree, she embarked on her entrepreneurial path.
The turning point for Playa Society came in 2017 with the launch of a T-shirt design featuring a strike through the word “Female” above “Athlete.”
“I had a gut feeling that this could be something big,” Wallace recalled. Initially sold at local markets, overwhelming demand prompted her to expand sales online. “I was hesitant at first, but once I released it, the response was incredible. I was selling hundreds of these shirts.”
Inspired by the iconic “Love & Basketball” scene where Monica declares, “I’m a ball playa,” Playa Society was born in 2018.
WNBA players quickly embraced Wallace’s designs, with stars like Candace Parker sporting the “Female Athlete” shirt on national television.
“I was providing shirts to NBA players when no other brand was acknowledging the WNBA or women’s basketball, building connections along the way,” Wallace explained.
The summer of 2020 saw an unprecedented surge in demand for the “Female Athlete” T-shirt, selling thousands of units.
In 2021, Wallace seized the opportunity to collaborate with the WNBA, launching the inaugural collection featuring team-branded hoodies, sweatpants, and T-shirts.
The summer 2024 collection marks the latest chapter in Wallace’s collaboration with the WNBA, showcasing her continued commitment to celebrating female athletes.
Fans can purchase the collection on the Playa Society website starting Friday, June 7, 2024.
