The intersection of tennis and fashion is evolving with AI innovations and influencer insights, sparking discussions about the industry’s future.
Fashion has always been an integral part of tennis culture, evolving alongside the game itself. This dynamic aspect of the sport is particularly evident with athletes like Venus and Serena Williams, who have made names for themselves as style icons. Their influence is echoed by personalities such as Morgan Riddle, who merges tennis fandom with contemporary fashion trends at major tournaments. As tennis continues to intersect with the fashion industry, notable figures like Taylor Fritz are also stepping into the spotlight. Fritz’s role as a fashion ambassador for the global brand BOSS allows him to navigate both tennis and high fashion, recently showcasing his talents on the runway during Milan Fashion Week.
This week, the conversation surrounding fashion in tennis took an innovative turn with an announcement from H&M, which is launching a new artificial intelligence-driven initiative. The company plans to create digital twins of 30 real models, utilizing cutting-edge technology that will enable these AI-generated avatars to pose and style themselves without human intervention. This substantial shift in content creation aims to streamline promotional endeavors, particularly in the realm of social media.
While the initiative has garnered support from the models involved, who appreciate the potential to increase their visibility without the challenges of travel—one model humorously remarked about avoiding “jetlag”—not everyone shares this enthusiasm. Fashion influencer Morgan Riddle has raised concerns about the initiative’s implications for job security within the industry. In an Instagram story, Riddle expressed her dismay about the potential loss of positions on photoshoot sets, quoting a post from Business of Fashion that articulated apprehensions regarding the employment landscape for creative professionals.
Since her rise in notoriety starting in 2020, Riddle has become a prominent fashion influencer, particularly within the tennis community. Known for her polished yet sporty style, she accumulated a following through social media platforms by showcasing fashion insights, especially during high-profile events like the Australian Open. Riddle’s influence extends beyond her own platform, as she collaborates with various notable brands, such as Lottie NYC, Wimbledon, Miu Miu, Hermes, and BOSS. Her recent appearance at the Miami Open, where she represented Fritz, further solidified her reputation in both tennis and fashion. Dressed in a black Lacoste polo paired with a pleated white tennis skirt, Riddle exemplified the blend of sport and style.
In tandem with H&M’s innovation, the fashion retailer is conscious that this venture may elicit mixed reactions. The company posits that while the technology could generate new income streams for models, it also raises concerns regarding the impact on traditional roles in fashion, including photographers, stylists, and makeup artists.
Navigating her own presence in the public eye has yielded challenges for Riddle, particularly as she is often critiqued for leveraging her relationship with Fritz to further her career. Some segments of the tennis community have urged her to maintain a more subdued presence in favor of supporting her partner. In a candid moment on The Squeeze podcast, Riddle addressed this scrutiny, defying expectations by stating, “Came in guns blazing, I was like, ‘F— that!’ People make up insane things.” Her unapologetic attitude and her willingness to confront misogynistic sentiments in the industry further define her character.
In light of H&M’s new AI model initiative and the ongoing discourse about the roles of influencers and traditional models in fashion, it remains uncertain how the landscape of tennis fashion will evolve moving forward. As Riddle continues to voice her thoughts and carve out her own identity in both tennis and fashion, her journey serves as a focal point for discussions about the intersection of these two vibrant worlds.
Source: Noah Wire Services
