NBA Draft prospect R.J. Barrett has signed a multiyear contract with Canadian suit brand Indochino and will "become the company's first signature athlete," according to Kirsten Fleming of the N.Y. POST. Tonight's Draft will be Barrett's "inaugural appearance as brand ambassador" for the company. NBA Draft fashion have "become an integral part of the annual hoops selection showcase," as the league's stars have "steadily become more style-centric." It is now a "sartorial rite of passage, where young soon-to-be millionaires show off their fashion chops with natty tailored suits, peacock prints and audacious footwear." Barrett tonight will be "sporting a bold pink suit with a black dress shirt, a black tie, gray Louboutin loafers trimmed with spikes that retail for $995 and his brand-new Cartier watch." Barrett "studied previous draft classes to rule out certain looks that had been done over and over." A "continuous pattern of the Canadian maple leaf" is sewn into the lining of his suit, which he "plans to show off when he poses" with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on stage. The Toronto native's nickname, Maple Mamba, also is "stitched into the interior of the jacket," a play on Kobe Bryant's "Black Mamba moniker." Barrett said of his suit, "It's extravagant. I've always been a reserved kind of person, so the thought was, 'I want this to be memorable.' It's a night that I will never forget, so I want my suit to replicate that" (NYPOST.com, 6/20).
SHARP-DRESSED MEN: SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL's Liz Mullen notes the business of outfitting players for the NBA Draft has "turned into a show within the show, creating a boutique industry as well as a branding opportunity for the players." There are a "handful of stylists who work with players to create handmade suits" for the Draft," and NBA agents "help players find the stylists as part of their preparation for the draft." The players "usually pay for the suits, and some stylists have relationships with agencies." Another recent trend is a "clothing or retail company, such as JCPenney, paying a player to wear one of its suits as part of an endorsement." However, players increasingly are "working with stylists to dress them or hand-make the suits they help design" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/17 issue). THE ATHLETIC's Shandel Richardson wrote Draft outfits have "been a way for players to show off their personalities," and the players "don't mess around." Richardson: "Choosing the proper attire for the big day is nearly as important this time of year as vertical leap and wingspan testing" (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/19).
JA RULE: Draft prospect Ja Morant told GQ's Alex Shultz he considers himself a "fashion guy" and that he likes what he has picked out for tonight. Morant said, "I'm not going to say too much on what I'm wearing, but I will definitely have my hoop earrings, my necklace, and Tissot watch. It's nothing too much, but it'll turn some heads." Morant added he also calls himself a "sneakerhead," saying, "I have too many shoes to count" (GQ.com, 6/20).
