Knicks F Amar'e Stoudemire’s clothing line with designer Rachel Roy is being released in September, and “sports will play a major role” in the collaboration, according to a cover story by Marc Karimzadeh of WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY. The line, which will launch at select Macy’s stores, macys.com and NBA.com, is “still in the early stages of development.” Roy said, “I am channeling a girl that goes to sporting events. She goes to basketball events or maybe football events. She needs something that is modern, something that represents her in a way that doesn’t look like it just came out of a sporting goods shop.” Karimzadeh reports some initial design concepts include images that “have a vintage-looking ‘1’ icon, in reference to Stoudemire’s jersey number, and some are takes on NBA logos, including vintage ones.” Roy also “added stars, taking the idea from the Star of David tattoo on Stoudemire’s hand.” Roy: “I wanted to incorporate things that were authentic to him.” Prices will range from $45-250, but the clothing company “declined to disclose projections for the line.” Karimzadeh notes Stoudemire and Roy have “figured out a system that appears to work for both.” After “initial conversations during which they bounced concepts off each other, Roy started sketching, and Stoudemire has been picking his favorites to narrow down the final lineup.” Stoudemire’s “fashion profile is clearly on the rise -- especially since he joined the Knicks.” In addition to “sitting in the front row at Tommy Hilfiger the last two seasons, Stoudemire was invited by Anna Wintour to the Fashion’s Night Out runway show in September, and he just appeared in Vogue’s April issue.” Stoudemire over the past few months has “repeatedly spoken of his desire to start his own line,” and he and Roy are “likely to help each other out beyond the one-season collaboration” (WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY, 4/13 issue).
HIGH SOCIETY: The N.Y. POST’s Page Six reports Stoudemire’s collaboration with Roy has landed him a “seat at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala on May 2” (N.Y. POST, 4/14). Stoudemire appeared on today episode of "Live with Regis & Kelly," where co-host Kelly Ripa mentioned his invite to the Met Gala and noted that is the "biggest event in the city." Co-host Regis Philbin noted Stoudemire has "become a fashionista." Philbin: "This guy is a real great businessman too. He's into designing clothes" ("Live with Regis & Kelly," 4/14).
