From Closet Creations to NFL Icon: Juszczyk’s Fashion Empire

From Closet Creations to NFL Icon: Juszczyk’s Fashion Empire

In the vibrant world where sports and style collide, Kristin Juszczyk has emerged as a true powerhouse. What began as a personal quest to elevate game-day attire has blossomed into ‘Off Season,’ a thriving fashion brand synonymous with custom, viral NFL-inspired looks. Juszczyk, now a celebrated entrepreneur and designer, recently opened up about her remarkable journey, from humble beginnings in her closet to dressing some of the biggest names in sports and partnering with major retailers.

The Genesis of ‘Off Season’

Juszczyk’s foray into fashion design wasn’t born from formal training, but from a practical need and a can-do attitude. “When I met Kyle and then we moved out to San Francisco for the 49ers, I started going to all of his games and I just had the same like three t-shirts in rotation,” she explained. “I just got so sick of wearing the same thing over and over again and I’m kind of just born with the figure it out mentality.” This ‘figure it out’ spirit led her to YouTube, where she taught herself to sew, initially creating pieces solely for her own game-day wardrobe because, as she put it, “what I wanted I couldn’t find anywhere. So I was like if I can’t buy it I guess I have to create it.”

Her early creations were resourceful, evolving from painting numbers onto existing shirts to deconstructing and reconstructing vintage pieces. A pivotal moment was transforming a football into a corset. “I was looking at a football one day and I’m looking at I’m like, ‘Okay, it’s leather and people wear leather all the time. So maybe I can like deconstruct it,'” Juszczyk recalled. This innovative approach, requiring eight footballs for a single piece, demonstrated her unique vision and willingness to experiment.

From Personal Projects to Public Demand

The transition from personal hobby to a burgeoning business gained momentum when Juszczyk began creating pieces for others. A significant turning point was designing for Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. “The first person that it I’m 99% sure it was Simone Biles,” she stated. Recognizing the challenges of custom fittings without technical training, Juszczyk focused on creating pieces like puffer vests and jackets that were more forgiving in fit. “I just didn’t want to like touch that type of thing,” she admitted, referring to form-fitting garments.

The ‘wag’ (wives and girlfriends) community proved to be a supportive network. “The wag world is really just like one big family. I we all follow each other. I mean, we’re all kind of going through similar experiences, so we all support each other,” Juszczyk noted. After creating a piece for 49ers’ Deebo Samuel and previously for Brittany Mahomes, Juszczyk realized the broader potential of her designs. “I really always believed in this pass in this project of mine and I really did want to bring it to market and I realized like dressing myself wasn’t enough and it wasn’t getting the traction that I thought it deserved,” she said.

Launching ‘Off Season’ and Partnering with Immigr

The decision to formalize ‘Off Season’ as a business was fueled by a viral moment: a puffer jacket made from her husband’s jersey. “I remember making it and like scouring the internet and not being able to find anything that looks like that. And then I just was like, ‘Okay, I think that I’m on to something here,'” she shared. This realization, coupled with a fear of intellectual property being copied, spurred her to action.

Juszczyk’s entrepreneurial spirit, inherited from a lineage of business owners, drove her to seek investment. Her pitch to fashion mogul Emma Grede was a nerve-wracking but pivotal experience. “That was the most nervous I’ve ever was in my entire life. Well, I’ve never pitched anything a day in my life,” Juszczyk confessed. Armed with a suitcase full of her creations, sketchbooks, and branding concepts, she presented her vision. Grede, impressed by Juszczyk’s drive and the unique appeal of ‘Off Season,’ saw the potential, leading to a powerful partnership.

‘Off Season’ Hits Nordstrom and Beyond

The collaboration with Grede culminated in ‘Off Season’ launching at Nordstrom, a dream come true for Juszczyk. “To walk up Nordstrom, I mean, I’ve been going to Nordstrom my whole life and to see my own brand there is just like the ultimate pinch me,” she expressed. The brand’s placement in a fashion-forward environment, rather than a traditional sports store, was intentional. “I wanted this to live in a space that maybe doesn’t feel so intimidating. I think maybe a a sports team store can feel intimidating to some people who aren’t like the biggest fan of that team,” she explained.

The brand has since expanded its reach, notably with an Olympic collection for Team USA. Juszczyk described the process as taking the iconic red, white, and blue and adding an ‘Off Season’ twist, focusing on both functionality and a distinct design aesthetic, often featuring asymmetry and unique textures like embroidery and corduroy. “We love doing embroidery wrapped around the collar, asymmetry on design, but then of course like having the team pride loud and proud,” she detailed.

The Future of Fan Fashion

Looking ahead, Juszczyk aims to expand ‘Off Season’ to cater to all NFL, NBA, and WNBA teams, while maintaining the brand’s core identity. “We want to be able to tailor to all the NFL teams, all NBA teams, all WNBA teams,” she stated. Her ultimate goal remains seeing fans embrace her designs: “My dream was to always just like walk into a stadium and to see fans wearing offseason.” She believes ‘Off Season’ is poised to redefine what fans wear, blending sports culture with high fashion. “At the end of the day, I’m a fan and so I’m trying to dress myself for the games. So I’m just trying to dress the fans,” Juszczyk concluded.

Source: Kristin Juszczyk's success with 'Off Season' fashion brand, custom designs and more 👏 | SportsCenter (YouTube)