News feed
The beloved summer of tennis has continued this week in Melbourne with the highly-anticipated Australian Open. Whether you’re braving the 37 degree weather from Rod Laver Arena (I am) or watching on from home, tenniscore is certainly at an all-time high. Celebrating the tennis tournament calendar is The Upside and Volley who have teamed up to release special-edition heritage shoes for both on and off the court. Racket, optional.
The Upside’s Founder & Creative Director Jodhi Meares passionately brought to life the collaboration, saying, “Volleys conjure up so many great memories for me. Your school shoes came off and your Volley’s came on, signifying good times, fun times.”
Leaning into this sense of nostalgia the collaborative duo has released a low-top and high-top of the quintessential court shoe with the prominent 3-stripe detail on the signature Volley heel-tape and a custom “Volley Up” logo. Made in the original lightweight cotton canvas, reinforced toe cap for stability, as well as gum sole with herringbone pattern for traction and grip, the features are synonymous with a shoe that’s become a staple in Australian wardrobes.
“Tennis has a timeless appeal that definitely lends itself to reinterpretation, however there’s a sense that with a new, emerging role 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,” says Volley’s Content & Marketing Manager, Anna Geason.
The footwear sits alongside an elevated tennis capsule by The Upside which was released at the same time. The capsule serves up a classic trio of red, white and navy fabrics, and reminisces the golden era with nostalgic nuances and 70s silhouettes. Of note are the V-necks, a classic training top silhouette inspired by the elegance of the sport, as well as the statement crochet fabric adding undeniable, vintage glamour. The collection is not just for show however, and also boasts moisture-wicking performance pieces.
The Upside X Volley shoes are vegan and available exclusively at theupside.com.au, volley.com.au and Stylerunner. If you’re heading to the AO be sure to check out the Volley stand which is open to the public.
