Cherry catches history with new Chiefs playoff collection — a first for a female designer
January 14, 2025 | Startland News Staff
An exclusive apparel collection from the Chiefs and fashion-forward brand Cherry is taking the field ahead of Kansas City’s latest playoff appearance. And the woman wearing the cherry-red captain’s patch: a familiar face within Kansas City sports and entrepreneurship.

Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer Dante Hall wears a piece from the Chiefs x Cherry campaign’s “Blossoming Grit Red Collection”; courtesy photo
“This collaboration means the world to me,” said Thalia Cherry, who founded Cherry Co. in 2012. “The Chiefs and our company are both dedicated to impacting community. As an entrepreneur and former athlete, I understand triumphs and losses — and the dedication it requires to follow your dreams, much like the players. This collection was designed to capture the essence of resilience.”
The Chiefs x Cherry campaign — “Blossoming Grit Red Collection” — features a high-end sportswear collection that draws inspiration from the profound symbolism of the cherry blossom.
“Every piece in the collection is a fusion of high fashion, designed for those who believe that true strength lies in balancing grace with determination,” Cherry said in a press release. “The collection, with its ephemeral beauty and enduring symbol of renewal, serves as the perfect metaphor for the Chiefs journey — where every moment of glory is earned through hard work and every triumph is a result of unwavering determination.”
It is exclusively available at the Chiefs Pro Shop located at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City International airport, and on the Cherry website.
Click here to shop Chiefs x Cherry.
The collaboration is the first such collection designed by a female designer in Kansas City, according to the Chiefs.
Representing the duality of life — its beauty and brevity — the collection embodies the spirit of rebirth, vitality and the relentless pursuit of excellence, Cherry said. The theme merges the concepts of beauty and grit, showcasing how the Kansas City Chiefs outwork their opponents with both elegance and tenacity, and emphasizes the beauty found in the struggle and the relentless pursuit of victory.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cherry on this exciting collection,” said Lara Krug, chief media and marketing officer for the Chiefs. “As a local, women-owned business, Cherry is the perfect partner to showcase the strength, style and innovation that we stand for. We believe our fans will love these fun and unique designs, and we can’t wait to see this collaboration come to life.”
A mainstay of the Kansas City business scene for more than a decade, Cherry contributes 10 percent of each purchase to support education, sports and entrepreneurship.
The brand celebrates the achievements of legendary athletes, game changers and cultural icons — depicting a story of individuality, fashion and historical moments.
Cherry products are available at such retail locations as Made in KC’s Plaza marketplace, Halls Crown Center, Rally House, and the Kansas City International Airport.

2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KC favorites eye World Cup: How to become ‘the spot’ for visitors without losing KC flavor
Even a visitor can become a repeat customer, said Dulcinea Herrera, stressing the importance of Kansas City businesses making their establishments a destination — not just a one-time stopover or accidental find — for international fans and other out-of-town guests when the FIFA World Cup arrives next summer. The goal: Win them over with intentional…
Meet LaunchKC’s winners: $60K prize today; world headquarters in KC tomorrow
Every iconic company headquartered in Kansas City — from Helzberg Diamonds to Hallmark — started with an entrepreneur hoping to scale a small idea into big impact, said Jim Erickson, teasing a next wave of emerging startups and the latest winners of the LaunchKC grants competition. Eight early-stage companies were announced Monday as recipients of…
Missouri’s best breweries are in Kansas City (and they have the medals to prove it)
Two Kansas City brewers barreled through the competition earlier this week, earning the first-ever, statewide “Brewery of the Year” honors for local favorites Boulevard and BKS Artisan Ales. It’s a feat fermented through years of dedication by the teams behind the labels, both brewers said. “From the day we opened, we have kept balance with…
World Cup readiness event opens City Hall to entrepreneurs hoping to get on the roster
Kansas City wants to score as many points as possible when the FIFA World Cup arrives in 2026, said Janá Wagner, emphasizing that a special event planned Tuesday during GEWKC aims to get businesses into the game now — playbook in hand. “Our goal is to help as many entrepreneurs as possible get properly licensed,…








