Slunks: Sponsoring Meaningful and Inclusive Athletic Wear at the Olympics
Among the athletes, fans, and sponsors flooding the city for the Paris Olympics, one brand stands out for its vibrant colors and dynamic energy—Slunks. Based out of Laguna Beach, California, Slunks is emerging in the athletic wear market and striving to create meaning for the athletes it sponsors, including the USA Beach Volleyball duo Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth.
Charlie Luong, a dedicated Slunks employee, and North Carolina native travels across the U.S. for various events, but being in Paris for the Olympics is an opportunity he cherishes. It’s not just about the games… it’s about supporting athletes like Nuss and Kloth and their individuality. “They’re just great players who show their personality on and off the court,” Luong added. Marc Mateson, co-founder of Slunks, said the company wants to bring these personalities to life.
Mateson said Slunks was born out of a desire to bring something fresh to the world of athletic wear. While, “The idea behind Slunks was making retro styles but with modern comfort,” the brand aims to break away from the “boring” athletic wear, opting instead for vibrant designs that reflect the fun, energetic personalities of its creators and wearers.
Slunks has sponsored the Men’s USA Volleyball team in previous Games, but this time around, the focus shifted to the women’s team, and the approach was more collaborative than ever. Mateson and his team took to social media to involve fans in the design process, allowing them to submit ideas and vote on their favorite designs. The result? A line of clothing that not only looks incredible but also carries the voices of the community that supports the athletes.
The decision to involve fans in the creative process wasn’t just a marketing tactic—it was a reflection of the brand’s core values. “We are a very inclusive company. We try to get other people to come along and feel like a part of the company,” Mateson said.
Slunks’ inclusivity doesn’t stop at design. Slunks also offers customized scripts and quotes on its clothing, allowing athletes to infuse their gear with personal meaning. For instance, TJ DeFalco, another Slunks-sponsored athlete and USA men’s volleyball player, wears items that represent each member of his family, turning his athletic wear into a source of inspiration, support, and motivation.
For Mateson and his team, it’s all about creating clothing that goes beyond mere functionality and celebrates athletes’ individuality. “Not just a black pair of shorts or a white pair of shorts,” Mateson emphasized. Slunks is about crafting garments that carry significance for the wearer—clothing that, when worn, means something to you.