Skeptics may dismiss it as a passing fad, but fashion designers are standing by the sport. Photo: Friend Of Ours
Love it or not, pickleball – a cross between tennis, badminton and ping pong – is undeniably a full-blown phenomenon.
Since gaining traction in Malaysia around 2019, its popularity has even spilled over into the fashion scene.
Scores of brands are launching their own pickleball-inspired collections that blend everyday essentials with sportswear.
Beyond designing pieces inspired by the game, companies are partnering with venue operators for product launches and social events.
Pickleball courts are popping up nationwide, with many found inside shopping malls.
“Players aren’t just showing up to play – they’re showing up with personality,” says the founder of PXP Pickleball Club, Kyan Yap.
Avid pickleball players love to show off their style. It is this shared love of sport and fashion that continues to drive the game’s growing influence. Photo: Fila“You’ll see people in coordinated athleisure, crisp whites, skorts, visors or even designer sneakers. It’s that mix of sport and sophistication, functional, but fashion-forward.”
According to Yap, his pickleball court at Pavilion Damansara Heights attracts those who want to both look and feel good.
“They’re coming in dressed to suit a theme, couples matching their paddles and outfits, or even friends planning colour palettes for our events.”
This presents a lucrative opportunity for brands.
Yap notes a growing interest not only from fashion labels but also from beauty companies, many of which see pickleball as the next big cultural crossover.
“They recognise that the audience here is health-conscious, stylish and socially connected – exactly the kind of demographic they want to reach,” he says.
“For many of them, the pickleball court represents that sweet spot where sport meets style. It’s aspirational, inclusive and community-driven. And that’s what modern luxury looks like today.”
Read more: From gym to glam: Why the fashion industry is obsessed with sportswear right now
All about the image
Perhaps it is this obsession with maintaining a perfectly stylish image that has also drawn criticism towards pickleball players.
The sport is often dismissed by detractors as “performative”, suggesting it has become more about being seen than about the game itself.
It does not help that pickleball is frequently labelled a lighter version of tennis.
Ironically, tennis has long inspired its own aesthetic. The enduring tenniscore trend, with its pleated skirts, polos and preppy looks, remains a mainstay both on runways and in everyday wear.
Unlike the tenniscore trend, pickleball fashion is believed to be less classic. Photo: Kualesa“Compared to tennis, pickleball style feels louder and more playful. There’s more room to experiment with colour, print and attitude,” says the founder and CEO of Kualesa, Ariff Faisal.
“Tennis has long been rooted in tradition and clean minimalism, while pickleball gives you permission to have fun with it.”
His homegrown fashion label focuses on outfitting the modern-day country club crowd, not just pickleball enthusiasts.
“Pickleball sits comfortably within that world, alongside padel (another racquet-sport derivative) and tennis,” Ariff notes.
Kualesa recently launched a collection celebrating sports in general. However, Ariff adds that unlike other performance-focused activities, pickleball represents a broader lifestyle shift.
“You don’t typically see cafes or juice bars next to basketball courts, but you do at pickleball venues,” he observes.
“It’s where sport and social connection meet – and that’s where fashion naturally belongs.”
Just a hype?
Skeptics may dismiss it as a passing fad, but designers are standing by the sport.
“With pickleball, we saw something more lasting – a way for people to belong without feeling intimidated, to stay active without needing prior skills or training,” says Tanestrran Chandran, who co-founded a pickleball-focused fashion brand with his brother.
Named Friend Of Ours, their new venture is banking on the hope that the trend endures.
While Tanestrran admits hype can be fleeting, he believes pickleball’s appeal runs deeper.
Its strength, he says, lies in its sense of community. People are less likely to give up a hobby when their friends are part of it too.
He gives the example of his close peers, ranging from beginners simply having fun to regular players who take the game more seriously.
“The common denominator is their desire to belong, and the best way they know how is through what they wear when they step onto the court. That’s where we come in,” Tanestrran explains.
Activewear has grown into a massive market, and it’s not a trend that’s going away anytime soon. Photo: The Shirt BarHe adds that their goal is not just to sell clothes, but to grow alongside the community.
“Our first capsule is pickleball-centred, and while we aim to keep creating in that vein, the goal is to expand into other areas – sports, athleisure and beyond.”
Pickleball’s rise in fashion is not without precedent.
Tennis is the most obvious example, but other sports have also evolved distinct aesthetics.
Golf has found new relevance through retro-inspired knits and preppy silhouettes that blend clubhouse polish with everyday wear.
Basketball has seamlessly woven itself into streetwear, with sneakers becoming a defining part of the look. Yoga pants, meanwhile, moved beyond the studio to become a wardrobe staple, shaping the athleisure movement.
Read more: Game, set and match for courtside style with the 'tenniscore' fashion trend
Part of an even larger trend
With activewear trending more than ever, it is no surprise that pickleball has found its place in fashion.
“Social sports are definitely here to stay. While specific games may rise and fall in popularity, the active, social lifestyle they represent is timeless,” says Serene Ang, founder of The Shirt Bar.
Her latest collection is not tied to one sport, but is designed to move effortlessly from the court to the cafe to casual meetings.
Ang notes that pickleball is easy to pick up, unlike high-intensity sports such as basketball or running.
“It’s approachable, social and inclusive – appealing to a new generation that values both wellness and connection,” she says.
The community aspect, Ang adds, is a big draw for Malaysians. After all, fashion has always thrived where people come together.
“Looking stylish while feeling comfortable has become part of the experience,” she enthuses.
Other brands are also making pickleball part of their identity.
Fila, for instance, is hosting a major tournament next month, alongside regular meetups, training sessions and clinics for players.
Jimmy Jin Bohyun, CEO of Misto Malaysia, the licensee of Fila-branded products in the country, calls it an “Instagram-native sport”.
“Pickleball isn’t just a game. It’s an aesthetic shorthand for effortless fun and modern belonging,” he says.
His thoughts echo those of many other proponents of the sport.
Jin adds that for those who actually play, the appeal lies less in strict performance and more in versatility.
“Pickleball fashion similarly carries a different energy. It’s more relaxed, social and playfully modern,” he explains.
He is confident the aesthetic will not fade anytime soon.
“As long as brands continue to design versatile, comfort-centric and expressive collections that reflect that mindset, pickleball-inspired fashion will endure – evolving from a niche aesthetic into a core language of modern leisurewear,” Jin concludes.
