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
Thalia Cherry, Cherry Co.; 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
She scored music on Netflix and LA’s star-studded stages; now BodaciousThang is getting vulnerable in KC
When Cheyenne Jolene steps on stage in the shoes of her alter ego, the singer-songwriter’s voice carries both raw emotion and unapologetic truth. Performing as BodaciousThang, Jolene blends R&B, hip hop, rock, and soul into what she describes as “genre bending” music. Her songs are steeped in authenticity and storytelling, offering listeners intimate glimpses into…
SNAP cuts are ‘worse than they look on paper’: Food access advocates warn shelves could go bare overnight
Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant doesn’t mince words about perceptions of the hungry Kansas Citians she serves daily through her award-winning culinary social venture. “These are the people who — if you listen to the rhetoric — are deemed ‘lazy,’” the founder of The Prospect KC’s NourishKC Community Kitchen told Startland News. “We know the narratives being…
LISTEN: Fermenting a clean future through products from meat alternatives to skin creams and baby formula
On this episode of Startland News’ Plug and Play Topeka founder podcast series, we chat with Francesca Gallucci of Natáur, a Baltimore-based biotech company that’s reimagining how essential nutrients are made. Combining synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and eco-friendly fermentation, they’re producing bio-based taurine (and other naturally occurring sulfur compounds) without relying on petroleum. Gallucci takes…
KCMO slashes fees for outdoor dining permits, launches dining trail for grant winning projects
Kansas City has officially eliminated outdoor dining permit fees, reducing the cost from $850 to zero, thanks to the momentum created by a city-led initiative to encourage investment in outdoor dining experiences, city leaders announced this week, unveiling new plans to promote funded businesses and their projects. Launched in 2024, the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Program…