Zendaya and 'Challengers' Buzz Breathe New Life Into Tenniscore

Tenniscore soared in popularity over the last few years as the world sought a socially-distanced athletic outlet (and, of course, a new wardrobe packed with sporty, prep-forward ensembles). The trend had waned a bit before Zendaya embarked on her latest press tour — and, now, we can partly credit her for breathing new life into it.

The actor and certified fashion icon is reinvigorating the tennis aesthetic with her method-dressing for "Challengers", which has included tennis-ball Loewe heels and sequined Thom Browne racket gowns, courtesy of Law Roach's unparalleled eye for fashion and devotion to a theme. Trend forecasting agency WGSN reports that, as a result of the chatter surrounding Zendaya and her recent style streak, as well as campaigns from the US Tennis Association (USTA) and tailored launches from fashion brands, styles tagged "tennis" have increased by 7% year-over-year, compared to 2023. Pleated skirts, meanwhile, have grown 2% year-over-year, now making up 24% of the skirts mix.

Sports and fashion are intertwining more than ever, with luxury brands tapping athletes for campaigns (see: Gucci with Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner and Louis Vuitton with Brazilian skater Rayssa Leal) and releasing their own riffs on sport-specific wear. (Just this week, Brunello Cucinelli launched a Tennis Sets capsule.) WGSN predicts this investment in sports will only continue. (Also remember: We have the Olympics this summer — with LVMH as a sponsor.)

Now, Loewe, can you pretty please release Zendaya's tennis-ball heels?

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