For Parsons Xtreme Golf (or PXG), a collaboration with Nick Jonas was an obvious choice. An avid user of the brand and dedicated golfer, Jonas was hands-on from day one in this true collaboration – a combination of style, performance, and fresh new ideas. We sat down to chat with Renee Parsons, President and Executive Creative Director of Apparel at PXG, about all things golf, fashion, and the brand’s very first collaborative collection.
“I’m a golfer,” explains Parsons, who took on the creative director position in 2018, “I love fashion and I saw a void and a need in the golf space to have better options that were both performative and actionable. That was the inspiration behind getting involved. Through what we design I thought we could help grow the game, make the game more approachable, be more inclusive to women, and design things that you didn’t see out there.”
Starting off with just herself and three others, Renee’s dedication and passion for the sport paid off, with the growing team now able to independently source, design, and produce a range of expertly crafted golf apparel for the fashion-forward athlete. “We’re always learning and evolving,” Parsons nods, “and last year when we started talking about this opportunity it just made sense. Nick loves golf and loves fashion, [he’s] super passionate about the game, but also appreciates and cares about the technical details of the apparel and how they perform with a design edge.”
PXGs first collaboration is a year in the making, with both Parsons and Jonas working on each piece from the ground up. Focusing on the perfect balance of “on-the-course functionality and style you can take off the course,” the collaboration melds classic PXG DNA with fresh new concepts. Dedicated to incorporating Jonas’ personal touch to the collection, Parsons worked alongside him to create a new logo specific to the collaboration. “We wanted to create a logo that embodies Nick Jonas and his brand and also embodies PXG,” Parsons smiles.” The capsule will include 28 new styles, a fully functional golfer’s wardrobe crafted to be worn just as easily off the course as on.
The new collection will cater to longtime PXG users as well as a younger demographic, incorporating new fits and modern designs that appeal to all athletes. “It’s fun to lean into the younger demographic,” says Parsons, “We thought it was a great opportunity to showcase to a whole new set of consumers and [show them] what golf is all about. Even if they don’t play golf, they’ll be able to rock the apparel, it’s fashion-forward sportswear, and I think it appeals to all kinds of people, whether you play golf or not.” The collection is fresh and modern, adding a twist to PXG’s beautifully crafted classics. “It’s definitely born out of Nick’s style,” Parsons explains, “we’ve introduced the ‘Nick fit’, more narrow through the waist and fitted through the chest and shoulders.”
The new collection was an opportunity for PXG to step outside its comfort zone and explore new additions to its standard line. “I’ve been wanting to venture into footwear for about three years actually,” Parsons laughs, “it really worked out that we were able to incorporate it into this collection.” The brand’s first foray into footwear, the collaboration features an adjustable rubber slide with a nod to golf spikes in the see-through sole. Alongside accessories like lightweight nylon bags, performance-focused socks, and stylish hats, the 15-piece apparel collection features thoughtful design details for the true athlete (one who never sacrifices style of course!).
Words by Emma Ungaro
