The First New York Giant to Step into the Fashion World

Added by Janet Thompson Hilliman on September 13, 2011.

Many pro athletes have set their sights on the multiple streams of income concept and quite a lot of them have tackled the fashion industry.  The fashion industry is a lucrative business and when a pro athlete is the face of the brand it certainly helps a great deal.  For certain athletes a sales pitch is not even necessary because the athletes’ name alone can sell the clothes. But this is not just a new phenomenon.  It has been happening for many years now and rapidly catching on. 

Here is one of the first NFL players that were able to accomplish this.  He is the legendary Carl Banks, a former linebacker with Big Blue from back in the day.  He’s been doing it before some of the present players were born. Banks has been a fashion guru for as long as anyone could remember because he was known as one of the best dressed sports star off the field in his time. 

An example item from the G III Women's Line

So who is Carl Banks for those who don’t know?  He was a 1^st round draft pick, pick #3 to be exact in 1984.  He spent 11 years in NY and is still a NY sports staple.  Actually he is currently a NY Giant sports analyst.  He got started in the business really early and was always a trendsetter so it is no surprise to anyone when he made that plunge into fashion. It is said that Banks is a traditional guy who love to wear classic pieces and loves to accessorize. He could be considered a real pioneer of the sports fashion industry.

Just last month he added a women’s collection to his clothing line G III.  He also has an edge in the sports fashion business because he is licensed to do apparels for the nation’s major sports such as the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL.  His women’s collection is very stylish and eclectic.  The pieces can be dressed up or down.  They are also quite relaxing in that they can be worn to the games or just to chill around the house. 

Banks credits his stay in the fashion capital of NY as helping him make that transition into the business; the times he used to spend window shopping in fancy stores such as Saks Five Ave and other high end stores have certainly paid off.  He really had the ladies in mind when he decided to tackle his new venture.  He saw the need for trendy sportswear for women to wear to the games so he filled it, which is very relevant for the ladies who want to go to the game “repping” their teams but doing it in style.