Venus Williams reveals more about her personal goals as she launches EleVen clothing in Australia
Tennis legend Venus Williams has admitted some home truths about her life ahead of launching her fashion-forward brand in Australia.
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Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams can serve looks as well as aces.
Whether sitting in the front row of a Louis Vuitton runway show or competing on the court in an outfit of her own design, Williams raises the style stakes, showing off her formidable sartorial and sporting skills.
“From a young age, my mother encouraged us to explore our creative sides,” Williams, 42, tells Stellar about the influence of Oracene Price on her and younger sister Serena Williams.
“I’ve always loved that fashion and design is a way to express myself. What some people might not know about me is that I have a degree in fashion design. I’m always looking for ways to push myself and expand my knowledge base.”
Williams’ mix of personal style with official credentials has turned her into a smashingly successful entrepreneur. She introduced the world to her interior design firm, V Starr Interiors, in 2002, and her activewear collection, EleVen, in 2007.
EleVen then made its New York Fashion Week debut in 2012 with Williams taking over as its sole owner and CEO three years later.
This month, the brand is coming to Australia for the first time.
“Fashion is such a fun way to show my personality and I love that EleVen has served as a bridge across two of the things I’m most passionate about, tennis and design,” she explains.
“I feel my most confident when I’m wearing EleVen, and confidence is contagious, so I hope other women feel inspired to try our pieces and adopt the EleVen mentality of always working towards becoming your best self.”
At the core of “brand Venus” is achieving this ultimate form of expression, and it’s clear the concept has permeated her psyche since childhood. Even 28 years after making her professional tennis debut, and having reached number one in the world and won 73 WTA career titles along the way (including 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with Serena), Williams says that continually reaching for this all-consuming ideal is what fuels her.
“I’m always working toward being my best self and don’t necessarily think I’ve arrived at that level just yet,” she says.
“Each day is a new challenge in the pursuit, and I take everything as it comes with the goal of becoming my best self in mind. That applies off the court as well, with my businesses and with fashion. If we were to act like we’ve reached the pinnacle, then we’ve stopped getting better, stopped chasing greatness.”
Fans were given unprecedented insight into the creation of this mindset in the 2021 biopic King Richard, which revealed how Venus and Serena’s father Richard Williams guided his talented daughters on their journey from playing on public courts in Los Angeles to becoming main draws in international venues.
The sisters served as executive producers for the acclaimed movie, which landed Will Smith an Oscar for his performance as Richard Williams.
“You get to see the ecosystem of my family and the ways we support each other through thick and thin,” Williams says of what she hopes is the lasting legacy of the film. “It’s not always perfect, but it’s in those life challenges where learning, growth and progress happen.
“Our path to where we are now wasn’t always linear, and it certainly wasn’t easy. There were ups and downs, good days and bad, a whole lot of hard work, and most importantly, an amazing family at the foundation of everything.”
While Serena has all but called time on her playing career, announcing in August that she is “evolving away from tennis”, Williams has remained tight-lipped on the future of her pro career after pulling out of her wildcard entry to the Australian Open this month due to injury.
“One of the greatest blessings of my life is the fact that I get to do what I love for a living and got to do it alongside my sister and my best friend,” Williams tells Stellar. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together, and I’ll cherish our memories on the court forever. “I’m confident 2023 will be an incredible year. I can’t share too much, but we have some exciting things in the works.”
EleVen by Venus Williams is now available in Australia at elevenbyvenuswilliams.com.au.
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Originally published as Venus Williams reveals more about her personal goals as she launches EleVen clothing in Australia
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