Australian athleisure brand The Upside and athletic shoe wear brand Volley have teamed up to design a pair of limited edition heritage shoes to mark the Australian tennis season.
The design heroes The Upside’s retro style with the distinct 3-stripe detail on the Volley heel-tape and a custom ‘Volley Up’ logo. It is also vegan.
The shoes have launched alongside The Upside’s new elevated tennis capsule collection, which includes red, white and navy colours, with reference to the 70s through V-necks and crochet fabrics.
The collection features moisture-wicking performance pieces in cotton pique, 4-way stretch peached fabrics in high-waisted skorts and dresses, and pleats.
The Upside founder and creative director Jodhi Meares said the new collection and collaboration are timely.
“People are looking at healthier, better ways to spend their time,” Meares said. “Tennis is a beautiful, social way to spend a Saturday afternoon, it’s another activity you can add into your wellness routine that’s fun too, because it’s playful.”
Volley content and marketing manager Anna Geason said tennis has a timeless appeal that lends itself to reinterpretation.
“However, there’s a sense that with a new, emerging roll call of young, exciting and highly watchable tennis players, that tennis is exciting again and attracting an entirely new audience, bringing tennis into the lifestyle-centric-wear realm rather than just performance wear,” Geason said.
Volleys were originally developed over 80 years ago by Grand Slam pioneer Adrian Quist and worn by tennis royalty through decades of major tournaments. They are made in the original lightweight cotton canvas, reinforced toe cap for stability, as well as gum sole with herringbone pattern for traction and grip.