Athletes have developed visual alter egos. They go from being geared up and sweaty to dripping in high-fashion brands, creating their own catwalk. The pre-game arrival routine — or the “tunnel walk” — has become a pillar of modern sports culture. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I’m torn on whether the growing relationship between fashion and sports risks making athletics too subjective.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that athletes’ off-duty fashion is harmful or that it invades sport. In many ways it enhances showmanship and personal branding. However, fashion is a powerful and influential industry, and I worry it can introduce bias across sports. If one league is perceived as more stylish than another, fans may gravitate toward it based on aesthetic appeal rather than athletic merit. This can result in greater visibility and acclaim for certain spots while others are overlooked. The NBA and Formula 1, for example, are often associated with high fashion, and their athletes tend to attract more followers and cultural attention than those in less fashion-forward sports.
Ultimately, I hope the defining measure of sport remains the skill, discipline, and hard work required to compete at the highest level, with fashion serving as an addition rather than a partition.
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.