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 an equity holder.
His namesake apparel line currently boasts eight types of shirts — six dress and two polo styles that easily transition from formal to casual. As American as apple pie, Watt designed the collection with a red, white, and blue color palette. Prices range from $80 to $145.
Six months in the making, the collection is near and dear to Watt's heart as each shirt is named for an important place in his life. The 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 the living rooms of friends while starting out in the NFL.
Also named after significant streets in Watt's life are 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 Watt lived on as a kid).
And Springdale and Steeplechase are neighborhoods in Watt's home state of 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. Their dress shirts both look sharp and keep me comfortable, the perfect combo,” Watt said in a press release. “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.
The J.J. Watt Collection is available now on Mizzen+Main's website.
The Springdale polo, named for a neighborhood in Watt's home state of Wisconsin.
With designs for both men and women, the boots are exclusively available online. Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
