One would think that a partnership between Victoria Secret’s PINK line and MLB would result in a collection of sporty knickers. However, this collaboration seems to be starting small (and dreaming big?) with sweats and tees for six major league teams: Cubs, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, White Sox and Yankees. The items are cute, look very comfortable, and stick mostly to team colors. However, there is one screaming hot pink Mets sweatpants/hoodie combo. Perfect for the girl who likes to stand out from the crowd, right?
While I’m certain that this will be extremely popular with PINK’s target demographic, several critics argue that female baseball fans already have a multitude of apparel options at their disposal. They also question why Victoria Secret has the number 86 on most pieces of clothing, citing Boston’s infamous “Curse of the Bambino.” In reviewing the overall PINK collection, it appears that Victoria Secret consistently uses the number 86 throughout the PINK line.
As a brand marketing enthusiast, I can’t help but wonder if Victoria Secret should have left the number 86 off of its MLB team apparel line. When it comes to sports, numbers on apparel will always have an added significance, from player numbers, to the year a team was founded, etc. I’m sure if Victoria Secret conducted a focus group, women would say that they’re not buying their MLB team apparel line because of the number 86, but because it’s cute, comfortable, and bears the name of their favorite team.
Bottom line – will this impact sales? Probably not, except in the case of a die-hard sports fan. As for their critics, I’d argue that women enjoy having options. We frequently look at our closets full of clothes and say, “I have nothing to wear.” Well, now we have a few more cute, sporty options.
What do you think of Victoria Secret PINK’s new MLB line? Check it out here: http://www2.victoriassecret.com/collection/?cgname=OSPNKMLBTMS&cgnbr=OSPNKMLBTMS&rfnbr=6378