Established in New York City in 2017, Rowing Blazers is an American clothing brand and design lab for the classics founded by Jack Carlson. They are dedicated to authenticity, quality, and craftsmanship; and simultaneously to irreverence, inclusivity, sustainability, empowerment, and fun. ¶
In August of 2022, Rowing Blazers launched the Arthur Ashe fashion brand. ¶ Named for the tennis legend who not only became the first Black man (and the first amateur) ever to win the US Open, but as well as taking home titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and a doubles championship at the French Open, but also served as an outspoken activist for racial justice and for those suffering from HIV and AIDS. The brand is a partnership between Ashe's widow, photographer Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, the Arthur Ashe estate, Jack Carlson (founder of Rowing Blazers, which revived Princess Diana's iconic black sheep sweater) and Karl-Raphael Blanchard.* ¶
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Nearly a year before the launch, in October of 2021, Rowing Blazers tapped Vocal Type founder, Tré Seals, to craft the wordmark for the brand’s sport collection. A modified version of VTC’s The Neue Black was created in collaboration with the design team at Rowing Blazers.
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Modifications to The Neue Black included weight and width adjustments and tests to see how these adjustments interacted with the Rowing Blazer’s color palettes.
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
Courtesy of Rowing Blazers
The result was a collection of 4 lighter weights stemming from The Neue Black. ¶ This can be best seen in the Arthur Ashe Pop-Up that took place during the 2022 U.S. Open.
Since the launch of the Arthur Ashe brand, it has been featured in Esquire, Town & Country, Golf Digest, Nylon, and more. A few celebrities have also been spotted wearing pieces from the sport collection.
Will Ferrell spotted at a Lil Nas X concert wearing a green ASHE sweater. Image courtesy of Rowing Blazers.