From love to ace, Katrina Santos launched Pique Active to offer women a broader range of fashion choices for both on and off the tennis court. Photographed by Ina Martelino of Sproos Creatives
The founder of Pique Active blends the world of tennis and fashion, creating timeless activewear
Tenniscore, a blend of preppy and athletic aesthetics has found its way into off-court fashion. Its rise can be traced to when outdoor activities started becoming the norm again, with an increased interest in the racket sport due to its seemingly distanced nature. Movies such as King Richard (2021) and the 2024 film Challengers seem to add to the allure of wearing tennis apparel. The recent wins of Vogue Philippines November cover star Alex Eala also kindled the interest, especially with her first W100 title at the ITF Vitoria-Gasteiz singles final in Spain.
Tenniswear is characterized by understated silhouettes, thriving on a classic color palette of whites, creams, yellows, and greens that pop against its courts in green, blue, or clay hues. It also became the staple of Katrina Santos’ wardrobe when she discovered the sport in 2023.
One year into learning the sport, Santos participated in a 4-day tennis camp at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manila Polo Club. During this camp, a friend Santos looked up to sparked the idea of creating a tennis wear brand. “Initially, I thought it would be too hard. But after hearing what our good friend had to say after sharing [an] important success story, I was instantly inspired to create my first mood board for Pique Active,” reminisces Santos.
From love to scoring style points
Santos’s journey to business began with “love,” the tennis term for zero, marking her starting line. “It wasn’t very straightforward,” reveals the mother of two. Before launching Pique Active, she juggled roles in her family’s marketing firm and balancing the demands of being a wife and mother. Everything changed when tennis entered their lives, giving her a fresh start.
“We were hooked just after a few months,” she recalls. “We would train and play four to five times a week. Having an outfit to wear to our sessions slowly became a problem because there weren’t a lot of tennis outfits available in the Philippines.” When she laid out her plans for Pique Active, support came from various corners. “Having my parents as mentors is incredibly valuable,” she says. Her parents, with their experience in business, gave her great advice and kept her focused, especially her father, who would always remind her to stay true to what’s important.
Launched in July 2024, Pique Active introduced its debut line, The Center Court Collection. The collection epitomizes the blend of comfort and style, featuring a timeless color palette with crisp whites, classic blue hues, and bold greens, one of which was personally dyed for the brand. Standout pieces include the “But First, Tennis” shirts, malachite green tank tops, skirts, versatile tote bags, and a varsity jacket.
In celebrating its first collection, the newly launched athletic brand held a pop-up event at EDSA Shangri-La in Mandaluyong. Tennis fans played friendly matches and checked out the new collection, which is made for stylish, active women.
Santos is not only focused on building her brand but also hopes to see more women-led businesses emerge in the coming years. She encourages women to be themselves, focus on what they are passionate about, and embrace challenges. Her optimism for the future of women in business is palpable, “[It’s about] women supporting women. We can all achieve our goals if we help each other and look after one another.”
For more information, visit Pique Active’s official website. Follow them on Instagram.
