Everyone knows Venus Williams has already conquered the courts – but since 2012, she has set out to conquer the fashion industry. With EleVen, the sportswear titan added designer to her resume when she launched her line of active wear clothing. The label merges her two great passions – sports and style – and aims to perfect athletic wear for a future generation of champions. Williams has been officially recognized for her commitment to fashion when she was ratified as a CFDA member just last year. Get to know the designer with our exclusive interview below!

What attracted you to the fashion industry?

I’m a huge fan of style and design, and always have been since I was young. I think they go hand in hand with tennis – fashion and sport are byproducts of passion! I didn’t wake up one day thinking ‘I should be a designer’ but really thought strategically about the steps I needed to take to get there. It’s why I got a degree in fashion design – I wanted to really learn and harness my potential. I’m always learning too – it’s what keeps me inspired and engaged in designing.

I felt like activewear needed some jazz! My line is about fashion and function. As an athlete, I know how things need to perform and move no matter how intense your workout or sport of choice is. As a designer, I know what my girl is going to want and give it to her. It means sports bras that come in popping prints that you’re never going to see out there from other brands!

Describe your brand in three words: 

Powerful. Vibrant. Strong.

What inspires you? 

Oh man – hard to answer because literally everything. Traveling inspires my vision for color and print. I see something when I’m traveling and take a mental note immediately. I sometimes jot it down too and sketch right there so I don’t forget it. I’m also inspired by what I see on the runway. Though I do sportswear, I love DVF and Tom Ford so seeing how they’re interpreting color and trend is always helpful in my growth as a designer. Lastly, my puppy! He is always part of design meetings and has even sometimes helped pick prints or colors (he sits on them and that’s a sign that we got to it!).

What sets you apart from other designers? 

I don’t design for trend, I design for style. I know what my EleVen girl wants and what she needs so I never worry about what other brands are doing. I also am an athlete so I know how clothing needs to move and perform. It adds that extra layer that I can bring this to the table as a designer.

Why did you want to be a part of the CFDA? 

It’s such a milestone for me as a designer. Being part of the program is such an honor and a highlight of my career. It’s this network that encourages and inspires designers to do their best work and exceed expectations. My line is all about encouraging people to be an 11/10. It’s the same thing the CFDA does for designers!

What do you hope to accomplish in your career? 

There’s so much more to come for EleVen. We’ve done incredible expansions into the UK, Asia, and Italy. There’s so much more I want to accomplish with that – next stop, global domination is what I’m always sayin’!

Describe one career milestone: 

The CFDA! Seriously. Thank you.