Designing a team uniform is about much more than picking colors and adding a logo.

For the LA Mad Drops and J. Pritchard, the goal was to create a custom jersey that looked sharp, performed at the highest level, and worked seamlessly for both the men's and women's roster.

J. Pritchard co-founders Steve and Darren Gable shared a behind-the-scenes look at the design process and what went into creating one of Major League Pickleball's most polished uniforms.

“Honestly, we were hesitant to do it. We said no at the beginning,” revealed Darren. “We actually said no to four or five teams.”

For J. Pritchard, every piece is designed with a clean, elevated aesthetic in mind. 

So when it came time to partner with an MLP team, finding an organization that shared that same vision was essential.

“The opportunity came up with the Mad Drops after we said no, so I think it created a bigger fire for them,” said Darren. “They had a beautiful story in regards to where they wanted to take the team. They wanted to show up to the game more elevated and bring in these bigger name sponsors to take pickleball to a level that’s not just a recreational park game, but a real sport.”

J. Pritchard approached the project with one goal: to deliver a sleek, sophisticated look that reflected both the brand and the team.

“The LA Mad Drops’ vision was to elevate pro pickleball to the next level, and we really connected with them,” said Steve. “As a team, they’re super family-oriented and that was a big selling point for us.”

Seeing some of the world's top players, including Ben Johns, Catherine Parenteau, and Jade Kawamoto, compete in J. Pritchard apparel has been especially rewarding for the brand.

The partnership with the LA Mad Drops felt like a natural fit. J. Pritchard's signature palette of green, white, and navy complemented the team's mint green and vibrant blue identity to perfection.

As Major League Pickleball continues to grow, however, so does the number of sponsors looking for visibility on team uniforms. One of the biggest design challenges was striking the right balance between showcasing sponsor logos and preserving the aesthetic that defines both J. Pritchard and the Mad Drops. 

“When the sponsors started getting picked up, we needed to figure out where to put their logos on the uniforms. We tried to incorporate the logos in the most tasteful manner, but working with our existing fabrics, figuring out ways to brand them, and communicate through it all was a challenge,” shared Darren. “But at the end of the day, it worked out, and it’s really cool to have some of the best in the game wearing our gear. Rumor has it that Ben wears our stuff off the court, too.”

As longtime pickleball players themselves, Darren and Steve now get the surreal experience of seeing their brand worn by top talent.

“We have skin in the game now. And we love watching the team. It’s such an entertaining game,” praised Darren. “It’s really cool to see how much the sport has grown over the years and see how people are taking a bigger interest in regards to the sport itself.”

The overwhelmingly positive response to the LA Mad Drops' new uniforms proves there's an appetite for elevated, thoughtfully designed team apparel in Major League Pickleball.

Here's hoping it's the beginning of a new standard because when a team looks this good, everyone wins.

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