Esther Wallace talks birth of Playa Society, WNBA partnerships, and using clothing to spread the message

Introducing Aesthetically Speaking, our series that delves into style-minded storytelling at the intersection of fashion and sports, featuring the brands and stylists who make it happen.

If you bought a piece of WNBA merch recently, chances are it was conceptualized and designed by Playa Society founder and owner Esther Wallace. She’s the mastermind behind several WNBA collaborations and drops, and also designed an apparel line for the Golden State Valkyries. Wallace has made quite a name for herself, and as the WNBA gets more attention, so does the work Wallace has put in over the years.

As she told Andscape last year, “It’s like you’re playing in the clutch, right?” Wallace said. “Fourth quarter and have to get this design done, then just to see everybody’s response and how much everybody loves the product, that was cool because it’s like, OK, I did it in the fourth quarter and came away with the win. It was special.”

For our first episode of Aesthetically Speaking, we dive into all this and more with Andscape host Ari Chambers. Watch as Wallace explains the why behind her brand’s vision, the importance of women’s sports, and the importance of going back to the drawing board.