“Didn’t Know if That Would Work”: Coco Gauff Shares Inspiration Behind New Version of New Balance Shoes

Coco Gauff is a fashion icon, captivating fans with her Marvel-inspired tennis kits and street style. Her Instagram aesthetic showcases her unique flair, and her New Balance shoe collection, including the CG1 and CG2, is a fan favorite. What makes her style so compelling? It’s her authenticity and passion, combined with her commitment to stay true to her roots. Could she bring this magic together for her next line of NB shoes?

Earlier this month, Gauff hinted at something “cooking” in the New Balance lab, possibly a new launch of her popular CG2 shoes. During an interview with the Tennis Channel, she revealed that the shoes could be styled with anything from jeans to a skirt. She teased a potential makeover of the high-top look, joking, “Get it here first on Tennis Channel, keep your eye out for some…maybe a new type of CG2 later in a few weeks.” It seems the cat’s out of the bag now!

On her birthday, New Balance announced the Coco Delray, a low-top version inspired by the CG2. But why ditch the sturdy high-tops? Well, Gauff explained on WTA’s official Instagram account. “A lot of people like the CG2, and some people were like, ‘We want a low version,'” she said, revealing what inspired Coco Delray’s design. This low-top model, available in sleek colorways like white with navy and off-white Parchment with aqua and navy accents, embodies Gauff’s vision of inclusivity in tennis. But that’s not all!

Did you know how Gauff’s tennis journey began in Delray Beach, Florida, where her family moved to support her tennis career? She wanted to pay tribute to her stomping grounds through these sneakers. She added, “I wanted to do something with ‘Delray Beach,’ but at first, I wasn’t sure. You know how trademarking stuff goes; I didn’t know if that would work, but luckily it did.”

Gauff was super excited about the launch, dedicated to her hometown. However, New Balance needed to make it an official Gauff product, so they added her name. She humorously noted, “I like to call it just ‘The Delray,’ but you know that ‘Coco’ part was probably what was going to make it sell, so they added that too.” After the CG2’s release, New Balance’s brand value soared to $4.3 billion, showcasing Gauff’s influence.

But the Coco Delray is more than just a tribute to her hometown; it’s a testament to her commitment to making tennis accessible. She shared, “Delray Beach helped spark my tennis journey, so it’s special to me to tell the story of this community that influenced exactly why I love this sport.” Additionally, there’s someone else that Coco thanks for the inspiration.

Coco Gauff gives credit where it’s due for the design of the Delray Coco

The launch of the Coco Delray was accompanied by a significant campaign celebrating tennis as a multifaceted pursuit. The campaign’s video featured narration by Coco Gauff‘s grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, a trailblazer who integrated Delray Beach public schools as the first Black student. On the other hand, Coco expressed gratitude to Joe Freshgoods, the designer behind her attire.

During a recent conversation with Freshgoods, she praised his creativity and vision in bringing the Coco Delray to life. Describing him as “an incredible creative visionary” who has “broken records with his shoe JoeFreshGoods,” Gauff thanked him publicly for his work on the project, saying, “If you don’t know Joe, Joe is an incredible creative visionary. He has done wonders at NB. He has broken records with his shoe JoeFreshGoods. If you don’t know him, you should know him. First I wanna thank you publicly, I have privately, but thank you for this project, I think three or four days before, it started to shooting and completely it around and I’m very proud and very honored that you did that,”

Now as she gears up for the Miami Open, will we see her shine on the court in these brand-new shoes as she powers through the tournament? We’d love to hear your thoughts!