ACE AESTHETIC

Hit the court with 6 Houston stores selling winning pickleball fashions

We've rounded up the best places to score cute and comfy outfits for the court.

Lucky in Love/Instagram

Like the rest of the country, pickleball is exploding in Houston. Picklers, aka those obsessed with the fastest growing sport in the nation, wanting to practice their overhead smash, now have their choice of several new venues opening in the past few months. Chicken N Pickle,PKL Social, Pickleball Social, and Bumpy Pickle are just a few of the newly opened hot spots. The Houstonian Club also recently got in on the pickleball action with the debut of its $6.2 million state-of-the-art pickleball complex.

In addition to a sturdy paddle, a stylish and functional pickleball outfit is a court necessity. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned player, pickleball outfits should provide adequate coverage, sweat-wicking material, and pockets for extra ball storage.

Because pickleball is still relatively new, only a few brands are dedicated exclusively to the sport. Not to worry; players can fill the gaps with tennis apparel and regular workout wear. To help score that ace look, we've rounded up the best spots for sporty gear in Houston.

DBS Living
Houstonians Larry Leonard and Sukaina Rajani (of Macaron by Patisse fame) launched a line of athleisure apparel called DBS Living (Don't be Scared) last year. They recently added pickleball gear, including tops, shorts, and paddles for men and women. With four-way stretch and two pockets for balls, the buttery-soft shorts are a must.

Houston brand DBS Living has pickleball gear for men and women. Courtesy of DBS Living

The Hot Pickle
Tennis and pickleball pros Jimmy Celli and Scott Farwell created their line of pickleball merchandise, including bags, trucker hats, socks, tanks, and accessories. Customers can buy online or visit their outpost in North Houston.

Houstonians Jimmy Celli and Scott Farwell launched their own line of pickleball gear available online or at their North Houston outpost. Courtesy of The Hot Pickle

Mighty Aphrodity
Located near the Galleria, Mighty Aphrodity is a boutique with quality fitness and athleisure clothing. Owned by native Houstonian Valerie Horwitz, previously a fashion art director, the store has many brands, including Lucky in Love, The Upside, Hi Love, Lauren Moshi, Beach Riot, and more.

Mighty Aphrodite in the Galleria area carries several athletic brands perfect for on court play. Courtesy of The Upside

Soley Fit
Stefania Okolie, a former ABC13 reporter, founded Soley Fit to support and unite women while telling the story of who they are. Available online, the brand rocketed to fame with its best-selling onesies and has now expanded into tennis dresses and skirts, sports bras, tanks, tops, and leggings.

Former ABC 13 reporter Stefania Okolie created her own line of athletic wear including cute and comfy pickleball sets. Courtesy of Soley Fit

Tennis Express
Located in the Westchase area of Houston, Tennis Express has one of the city's largest selections of tennis gear. The store also carries a large assortment of pickleball equipment, including men's and women's apparel, grips, shoes, paddles, and more.

Tennis Express, one of the largest stores dedicated to racquet sports, also has a large assortment of gear for pickleball. Courtesy of Lucky in Love

Wilson
Wilson Sporting Goods just opened its newest outpost in the Galleria making it easy to stock up on pickleball necessities. They carry custom-made Houston paddles, men's and women's apparel, grips, shoes, and accessories.

Get a Houston-centric paddle along with everything else needed for a smashing game at Wilson in the Galleria. Courtesy of Wilson

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DAZZLING DETAILS

Houston artist's Indian heritage inspires luxe new jewelry collection

Photo by Hung Troung

Maison Merchant’s debut collections feature sculptural gold designs, diamond accents, and customizable details handcrafted by master artisans in India.

Houston’s luxury jewelry scene welcomes a sparkling new addition with the official launch of Maison Merchant, the fine jewelry brand founded by Houston-based artist and designer Sneha Merchant.

The jewelry line is a new creative endeavor for Merchant, whose background as an artist serves as the foundation for the collection’s sculptural, highly detailed aesthetic.

“Maison Merchant is a fine jewelry collection inspired by my artwork, intricate circular motifs, and timeless craftsmanship, blending high jewelry with meaningful design and storytelling,” Merchant tells CultureMap. “This launch represents a deeply personal evolution of my creative journey, expanding my world as an artist into the realm of fine jewelry through pieces that feel luxurious, wearable, and enduring.”

Born and raised in Mumbai, Merchant's appreciation for jewelry began early when she would visit the family jeweler with her mother. “Being surrounded by that world from such a young age gave me a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, detail, and the emotional significance jewelry can carry,” she says. “Over the years, I began designing pieces for myself, and wherever I wore them, people would constantly ask about them.”

This led Merchant to debut her jewelry line with three collections. Cœur du Monde is inspired by mandalas and balanced geometry, while Muse d’Art transforms Merchant’s original artwork into wearable fine jewelry. The third collection, Renaître d’Or, explores transformation through sculptural gold designs accented with diamonds.

Sneha Merchant brings her artistic vision into the world of fine jewelry with the launch of Maison Merchant, a collection inspired by intricate motifs, craftsmanship, and personal storytelling.Photo by Hung Troung

“Every piece is designed to transition effortlessly from day to evening while retaining the craftsmanship and presence of high-end jewelry,” says Merchant.

Clients can personalize many designs in existing collections with different colors and material selections. The pieces are then handcrafted by master artisans in India with more than six decades of experience.

“Bespoke jewelry has always held deep meaning for me because I grew up watching my mother create custom pieces to mark the most important moments in her life,” she says. “Those pieces eventually became far more than jewelry. They carried history, emotion, love, and memories that were passed down through generations.”

Every Maison Merchant piece begins as a hand sketch, which she says is often the most time-intensive part of the process. “As an artist, translating a two-dimensional artwork into a wearable, three-dimensional form requires immense detail, proportion, and refinement before the design ever moves into production.”

Merchant's long-term goals go far beyond the debut collection, which is available exclusively online. “I want people to feel an immediate sense of confidence, refinement, and presence when they wear Maison Merchant,” she says. “My vision for Maison Merchant is to create collectible pieces that people return to season after season and eventually pass down for generations.”

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