Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

SKIMS has struck a multi-year partnership deal with the NBA as the organization’s first underwear sponsor. The move is the latest in a long line of cross-industry collaborations as the worlds of fashion and sports grow increasingly intertwined in attempts to reach fresh audiences.

LVMH has inked a ten-year partnership with Formula 1, helping to expand its influence in the sports sector. This collaboration arrives at a time when brands are leveraging the power of fandoms to foster new forms of collective identity while rewriting luxury codes for aspirational buyers.

Docu-series have become a highly-popular medium among sports fans and newcomers alike, demonstrating that fandom exists beyond spectating live events. Box to Box Films has seen success with several engaging series by offering behind-the-scenes insights into the lives of the world’s top athletes.

The NBA’s Brooklyn Nets have teased a high-fashion collaboration between its luxury private label bǝrō and Colm Dillane of KidSuper. As the worlds of sport and fashion become increasingly intertwined, there's an opportunity for brands to leverage co-branding to reach new audiences.