Nike forced to recall 'skimpy' Wimbledon dresses after female players complain
Nike has been forced into an embarrassing recall of its women’s tennis dresses due to be worn at Wimbledon after female players complained that they were too revealing.
Nike recalls revealing Wimbledon dresses
A number of female tennis players preparing to compete at the grand slam, which begins on Monday (27 June), have reportedly complained to the sportswear manufacture that the dresses were unnecessarily short and were hampering their play.
The 'Nike Premier Slam' dresses, branded “skimpy” by some commentators, have been flying up above the waistline, forcing some players to make improvised alterations while playing.
At this week’s qualifying event at Roehampton 19 year-old British prospect Katie Boulter made an improvised belt from a hairband to prevent her dress from riding up while Czech player Lucie Hradecka opted for knee-length leggings underneath as a means of dealing with the problem.
The Nike design used as Lucie Hradecka's shirt at Roehampton is going to be Genie Bouchard's dress at #Wimbledon: pic.twitter.com/r3YI8bVhNw
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 21, 2016
Nike has responded by asking the 20 plus players in the main draw who wear its apparel to send the dresses back for last minute alterations.
It sent an email to players which said: “We need to make a small change to your dresses per Wimbledon rules. Could you please bring them by the Nike Wimbledon House.”
In thick, underlined type it then says: “this is VERY important.”
Despite the dresses causing a backlash among players, the apparel was approved by the All England club which decided the revealing dresses complied with Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code.
An All England Club spokesman described the issue as a matter for Nike and said: “We approved it because it fully complies with our colour regulations.”