This year’s Super Bowl meant a lot to Kristin Juszczyk.
It was a devastating loss for her husband’s team, the San Francisco 49ers. But it was also the culmination of weeks of feverish interest in the clothes she made with her own hands and wore to NFL games. (Coincidentally, the Super Bowl was also held on her 30th birthday.)
“It all started as a hobby for me,” said Juszczyk. His hobby of turning vintage team equipment into disposable items eventually made international headlines.
From early January to mid-February (roughly NFL playoff season), her Instagram follower count grew to 1 million. Taylor Swift and Simone Biles supported their soccer-playing partners by wearing puffer jackets designed by Mr. Juszczyk. (Her husband is 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.) She signed a licensing agreement with the NFL, allowing her to use the league’s logo on her own clothing.
Ms. Juszczyk has spent months looking for ways to expand her business, not only taking commissions from fellow WAGs and celebrity fans (which she says are her “bread and butter”), but also making things for all her fans to buy and wear. Yes. .
She also expanded into other sports. For example, she designed a vest for basketball player Caitlin Clark. This weekend’s Indy 500 winner is Ms. You will receive one of Juszczyk’s jackets. The same goes for Indy 500 national anthem singer Jordin Sparks.
Mr. Juszczyk designed an Indy 500 jacket using vintage sweatshirts, T-shirts and checkered racing flags.
“When you think of the Indy 500, a very loud design comes to mind.” Ms. Kim was unable to attend this year’s race, one of the world’s largest sporting events. Juszczyk said.
In an interview edited and condensed for clarity, Mr. Juszczyk provides an update on his design career.
Talk about how you see yourself as a small business owner today. How does it feel to expand into other sports worlds?
My goal has always been to provide my designs to fans at various events. I didn’t want to think about just the NFL. Because we believe that every sporting world, league and club has fans looking for fresher, trendier designs.
I’m just putting my head down and trying to start this business and get my designs into the hands of my fans. This is my first time entering the world of licensing and I am learning something new every day.
What do you think it is about your work that resonates with people?
As a designer, if you don’t wear the clothes you design, who will wear them? I am a fan through and through. It wasn’t until about five years later that I realized I didn’t want to alternately wear the same four outfits every time I watched my husband play. I wanted to push the needle and wear designs you couldn’t find anywhere else.
When did you make your first jacket?
I started sewing only about 5 years ago. One Halloween, I wished we were Justin and Britney at the AMAs. It was an all denim outfit. I couldn’t find any online, so I bought a bunch of old denim pants and started cutting them up. I bought a sewing machine, watched YouTube, and learned how to use it. It came naturally to me.
Later I decided to make some sweatpants for Kyle to wear to one of his games and it snowballed from there. I continued to challenge myself to learn how to make shirts, skirts, and blazers. When I started making padded vests and padded jackets, this all developed like crazy. That’s what got the world’s attention. But it all started with a Halloween costume.
in your online postsyou make gist ~ Of Showing the work That’s what goes into these pieces.
I think it’s cool when people see that I don’t have a fancy studio. I’m sewing on the ping pong table. This is another reason why it resonates with people. Because it is very easy to empathize. People do projects at home all the time.
How did you approach designing this Indy 500 jacket?
I’m always trying to expand my skill set. I’ve never made a bomber design like this before, but I wanted to give it a more ‘racing car’ feel.” I’m kind of stuck in a rut with making puffer fish.
I threw in a little Easter egg. A very famous moment from 1985, with Danny Sullivan, called “Spin and Win.” If you look at the jacket you will see the flag spinning.
I look forward to seeing who the winner will be. There is a female racer this year, catherine leg. We’re rooting for everyone, but it would be awesome to see her get that jacket.
