One of the NBA’s most powerful agents is getting into athletic apparel.
On Wednesday, Rich Paul announced the creation of Klutch Athletics — a new Black-owned apparel brand “co-authored” with New Balance.
“There’s a gap right now that we can fill — creating training product that is functional, but with style,” Paul said in a news release. “We’ve seen other brands moving away from youth sports and training, so we’re focused on bringing the new look of training for the next generation. And there’s no one better than New Balance to build this with.”
The clothing line — which New Balance emphasizes is not a one-off collaboration — seeks to provide for athletes across youth, collegiate, and professional sports.
- The apparel’s color palette will draw from New Balance’s range of grays with a green accent representing the field of play.
- “We designed the line to help athletes perform their best and look good while doing it,” said Klutch Athletics Chief Design Officer David Creech. “It will deliver products for all athletes, regardless of sport or gender.”
Klutch Athletics apparel will be available for purchase online and in select retailers starting April 27. T-shirts will carry a $40 suggested retail, while hoodies will be $120.
New Balance Renaissance
Klutch Athletics is the latest in New Balance’s cultural resurgence.
In late January, the athletic apparel company signed baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani to a long-term endorsement partnership.
The Boston-based company also recently launched the third edition of Kawhi Leonard’s signature shoe, the KAWHI III.
