Fashion Game On

Local company ups the sporting apparel game offering team gear in high style

It’s hard to dress for sporting events without sacrificing style. Running Game Clothing might just have the answer to that fashion challenge.

The Houston-based company specializes in sports apparel that’s upping the fashion game for Houston Texans, Rockets, and Astros fans.

Kicking off the 2016 football season, Running Game Clothing launched its new line of game day gear this month, available now on the company’s website. “We don’t follow fashion seasons, like fall or winter. We follow sports seasons,” company co-founder Travis Drake notes.

The new collection takes its sporting roots seriously, with tank tops and jersey shirts for both men and women, brandishing slogans including “Tailgates and Touchdowns”, “Hustle Town,” and "Is It Sunday Yet?"

Throw on a T-shirt with leggings for a tailgate outing. A fitted tee under a blazer makes for casual office attire, transitioning seamlessly from daytime to game time.

Apparel is made of a high-quality, extra soft poly/cotton blend as well as an eco-friendly semi-organic poly/cotton blend, all preshrunk and made to hold up through multiple wears and washes.

Accessories include posters and caps available in a range of colors, including red, navy, and gray, with hand-stitched embroidery and mottos from “Bulls on Parade” to “The H-Town Republic.”

Running Game Clothing counts Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown, Houston Astros right fielder George Springer and pitcher Collin McHugh, and rapper Bun B amongst its fans, as well as former Texans lineman Chris Myers, who partnered with the company in 2014 on the DQ Strong line created to help raise money for Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry in his fight against cancer.

All hailing from Houston, company founders Travis Drake, Austin Drake, Bryan Dunlap and Adam Puskorius, who is also chef and owner of Stoked Tacos & Tequila in Midtown, started Running Game Clothing in 2012. “The whole reason we got started is we got sick of going to Academy and buying a $50 Nike shirt that you don’t like but has the team logo on it,” Drake explains.

Although the entire staff pitches in, Drake, who studied graphic design at Texas State, is the creative force behind Running Game Clothing’s designs, inspired by such organizations as the NFL, MLB, and NBA. “We pull references from slogans and from what’s happening with each team. Our guys go to just about every football game and they keep their ears to the ground.”

Future plans include pieces for cooler temperatures (think hoodies and jackets) and designs for Houston Dynamo and Houston Cougars fans.

Also in the works: The company is looking to expand into the San Antonio and Dallas markets, giving Spurs and Cowboys fans something fashionable to cheer about.

Shop for items on the company’s website. Prices range from $19.99-$24.99 for apparel and $9.99-$19.99 for posters.

Chris Myers and JJ Watt wear DQ Strong shirts, created to help raise money for Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry in his fight against cancer.

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all sales final

Houston-based clothing chain Francesca's shuttering all stores nationwide

Francesca's/ Facebook

Francesca's is known for its boho-chic dresses and tops.

After a decade of falling fortunes, Houston-based women’s clothing chain Francesca’s is clearing out all its racks. The once-mighty retailer is closing all of its nationwide stores, including its 15 Houston-area locations.

Although the company has not made any official pronouncement, Women’s Wear Daily reports that the brand is currently in the process of liquidating all of its inventory. According to the fashion industry trade journal, some employees are reporting that they were let go without warning, while vendors are allegedly seeking payment on hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid invoices.

Francesca’s was founded in Houston in 1999, becoming sought out for its boho-chic offerings that occupied a similar lane to Anthropologie. Over roughly 15 years, it quickly ramped up its footprint, peaking at over 600 locations by 2016.

That explosive growth did not prove to be popular with shareholders. That same year, the Wall Street Journal reported that its stock prices had plunged to their lowest price since Francesca’s went public in 2011. Despite leadership changes, the chain has been on a downward slope since.

In 2020, Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it sought a buyer for its online operation and brick-and-mortar stores. The chain closed almost 250 of its storefronts by early 2021.

After completing reorganization and being bought out of bankruptcy by an affiliate of TerraMar Capital and Tiger Capital Group, Francesca’s attempted a revival by launching a tween line, Franki by Francesca’s, and gobbling up celebrity-endorsed lifestyle brand Richer Poorer.

It’s unclear exactly when the Houston stores will shutter, but the company recently changed its return policy to state all sales are final after January 14. A request to Francesca’s corporate headquarters for comment was not immediately returned.

clothing womenswear retail shopping closings

Fashion Game On

Local company ups the sporting apparel game offering team gear in high style

Chris Myers and JJ Watt wear DQ Strong shirts, created to help raise money for Texans offensive lineman David Quessenberry in his fight against cancer.

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all sales final

Houston-based clothing chain Francesca's shuttering all stores nationwide