NBA Draft Fashion Puts Flashy Suit Style Back on Top
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As much as it’s about finding out where the stars of tomorrow will land, the NBA Draft is about the eye-catching fashion of the selectees.
Made-to-measure apparel-maker Indochino leaped at the opportunity to bring the glamor of made-for-TV event dressing to nine of the 58 picks who walked on stage to greet Commissioner Adam Silver Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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All nine outfits are available for purchase on Indochino’s website, priced between $500-$600, including the $549 Harrogate Black Suit worn by No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson. The addition of more than 600 gemstones representing the birthstones of the parents of the Portland Trail Blazers’ top pick, styled by designer China Henderson (no relation) of Mix of Luxe, infused his ensemble with glitz and glam.
The flowering pattern of the tree-like design the stones formed were meant to symbolize the 19-year-old Georgia native’s “blossoming into his growth.”
“To elevate and add meaning to Scoot’s look, I designed a tree of life motif to showcase the love within our family, and highlight the gemstone namesakes of each family member,” China Henderson said. “The final look represents our commitment to the empowerment of our local community and how we are strengthened by working together.”
Scoot Henderson, a 6-foot-2 guard from Marietta, Georgia—which is home to the garment’s seamstress, Orinthia Carter—bypassed college to spend a year in the NBA’s G-League before entering the draft. He said he appreciated the symbolism of the design that included the birthstones of all of his six siblings.
“This suit is a visual representation of what got me here and it celebrates the incredible support of my entire family, who have been essential,” he said. “I love that this custom suit brings my family tree to life in a new and creative way, which will give me confidence and protection.”
Other first-rounders repping the Indochino line included Duke center Dereck Lively II, who went 12th to the Oklahoma City Thunder in his Hamilton Velvet Burgundy Tuxedo ($579) and Alabama rim-protector Noah Clowney, who went 21st to the Brooklyn Nets in a $549 Hamilton Sharkskin Apricot Suit.
“With such a large roster of draftees this year, we had the amazing opportunity to showcase a variety of creative looks and tell each athlete’s inspiring story,” said Drew Green, CEO and president of Indochino. “With some players, like Scoot, looking to take customization to the ultimate limits, and others opting for sleek, classic styles, we are honored to help each of these young men bring their vision to life.”
The idea for the “Dressing Like a Pro” concept was born when Indochino partnered with Clemson University quarterback Trevor Lawrence ahead of his being drafted with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“It has grown from there into a dedicated page on our e-commerce site, to showcase the suits our athlete partners are wearing for key events,” Green told Sourcing Journal. “Customers have really gravitated to both the page and the corresponding social media and marketing, as it offers them the chance to wear what the pros are wearing on the world’s biggest stages. We’re incredibly proud when players choose to wear something their fans can not only admire, but also afford, and ‘Dress Like A Pro’ celebrates that.”
Other notable looks include Taylor Hendricks’ pale-pink suited lined with favorite photos while Gradey Dick made an impression wearing a fire-engine-red sequined blazer atop black trousers. Going No. 1 overall to the San Antonio Spurs, 7-foot-2 Frenchman Victor Wembanyama stepped out in a dark green suit tied at the waist. Keyonte George, selected at No. 16 by the Utah Jazz, went for a richly patterned burgundy-and-gold-suit to shake the commissioner’s hand.
Additional reporting by Jessica Binns.
