Football just got a lot more fashionable.
Kayla Jones, wife of Denver Broncos defensive lineman D.J. Jones, is known for her bold game-day fashion and infectious sideline energy. Now, the entrepreneur is stepping into the spotlight to elevate the fun and the fits of every football fan.
Her latest project proves that game-day style can be just as exciting as the plays on the field. At the heart of her current collaboration is her innovative purse that’s part football, part handbag—an accessory that turns sideline style into a statement of confidence, creativity and fan culture.
“What would happen if I cut that ball?” Jones tells Blavity, recalling the thought that sparked her creative handbag design. As a football wife, Jones had numerous footballs around the house and chose to customize one rather than carry the same plain, clear bag she had used throughout the season.
What began as an impromptu style choice became the catalyst for Jones’ brand, Women With Ballz, an accessory line for the football fan who knows fashion and fandom can be a perfect team.
“I feel like it speaks to the female fan who says, ‘I want to support, and I’m going to show up for my favorite team or my favorite player, but I want to do that in style. I don’t want to have to, you know, subject my style just to be a fan,’” Jones said of the handbag.
While she’s constantly scoring points for her style, Jones knows football is ultimately about the fans. That made her recent partnership with Smirnoff, the NFL’s official vodka sponsor, a natural fit as the brand remixes its “We Do Game Days” campaign to spotlight sideline moments and fan culture.
“Those sideline moments for us are very special… that’s where a lot of the magic comes into play,” the mother of two said.
She continued, “Smirnoff is a brand that is all about fun and excitement, and celebration. And that’s where I’m at in my life right now. I’m celebrating a lot of things and Smirnoff just gets it.”
The collaboration launched on Dec. 15 with limited-edition merchandise, including special-edition purses Jones designed featuring the Super Bowl LX logo.
The collection also includes items that blend fandom and fashion from designers such as Gavin Mathieu, founder and creative director of Supervsn, and Aleali May, an officially NFL-licensed designer known for her vintage-inspired team streetwear.
Merchandise will continue to drop on select dates throughout the season. Fans can also enter for a chance to win a one-of-one game-day jacket from May and a trip to San Francisco during Super Bowl LX weekend.