Pickleball fashion is leveling up as brands like Club Recess enter the space with high-quality, versatile pieces that deliver both performance and timeless style. Melissa Parvis, owner and Chief Product Officer, shared an inside look at the inspiration and process behind the brand’s latest apparel line.

“Recess Pickleball has been around since about 2020. The two founders are these beautiful women who came up with these really aesthetic pickleball paddles, and as things evolved my husband sat on their board for the past several years,” explained Parvis. “We invested in the brand and eventually acquired it when we wanted to make it more apparel forward. We changed the brand from Recess Pickleball to Club Recess in order to be more all-court sport and make beautiful apparel.”

Parvis brings years of experience in the apparel industry, and as an avid pickleball player, joining Club Recess was a natural fit.

“It’s my passion, and I love working on fabric and fit. I love the feeling of being able to wear pieces that you can mix and match for your lifestyle. We call this fabric ‘Every Hour’ because you can literally wear it every hour of the day. It’s smooth, matte, soft, and trust me, you’ll want to wear it every hour,” said Parvis. “We play in each of the pieces that we’re working on while developing and fitting them. Every sample that comes in, we’re taking it to the court and giving it to girls to wear and give us feedback.”

Though it’s tough to pick a favorite, Parvis especially loves the Standards Court Dress. 

“Everything has been thought out. There are pockets on both sides of the legs and you can pop a ball up or down. There’s a built-in bra, and we have detached shorts. It’s the best piece for playing in and then going to get drinks with your friend,” recommended Parvis. “The skirts are another favorite of mine because they’re so flirty and cute, and you can mix and match it with everything in your closet.”

As both a dedicated player and a fashion-forward founder, what defines a great pickleball outfit in Parvis’ expert view?

“For me, it’s about fit. Are the straps going to stay on when I’m playing? Do I have all the pockets I want? Is the fabric the right weight and feel?” she mentioned. “But when I’m at the court and I see someone who’s the best dressed, it’s who’s wearing the outfit with the most flair. I think it’s cool when you can make it your own. Three girls can all have the same white outfit on, but how do they style it? Can they make it their own?”

Club Recess recently hosted a launch event in the Hamptons, giving Parvis a front-row look at how different people styled the brand’s signature pieces.

“It was so fun to see all these girls wearing the same things, but with their own unique take on it. I loved seeing what shoes they were wearing, what jewelry, hat, and sunglasses,” she concluded. “That’s what makes Club Recess so good, that you can really mix, match, and style our pieces to fit your lifestyle.”

Club Recess has plenty on the horizon, from fresh colorways and graphic tees to even teased tracksuits from Parvis. Shop the latest from Club Recess now, and follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on all things pickleball.