Two Atlanta-based brands team up for a new pickleball collection

Pickleball is undeniably hot across Atlanta. It’s not surprising, perhaps, given how much Atlantans love tennis. Pickleball is tennis’ louder, more social cousin and if the debut of places like Painted Pickle are any indication, the sport will have longevity in our city.

For some, dressing the part is just as important as how you play the game. A new collection, CROSBY by Mollie Burch x La Point, debuted from two Atlanta-based brands recently to help those who want to look stylish while playing achieve that goal. CROSBY by Mollie Burch is a ready-to-wear brand that was founded in 2015, is known for its bold and bright original prints in feminine, easy-to-wear silhouettes.

La Point, founded last year by Lindsey Catone, is a pickleball paddle and accessory brand. “Our philosophy is that pickleball doesn’t have to always be so casual, it can be fancy and fun. We want to meet performance with fashionable designs,” she says.

Catone originally reached out to Burch to talk about collaborating on a paddle, communication that was fortuitous as Burch was thinking about launching an active line. “It was very serendipitous, and we loved Lindsey’s philosophy of making pickleball pretty but functional. We loved supporting another small, women-owned, Atlanta-based business, too,” says Burch. The timing was right, and the two launched the CROSBY by Mollie Burch x La Point line this spring.

Featuring paddles and matching dresses, the collection is available in five vibrant prints with names like Palm Beach, Ace It, and Pickle Plaid. The paddle collection is available on both websites and the corresponding activewear can be found on the CROSBY by Mollie Burch site, with the pieces available at select in-town boutiques like East Magnolia in Marietta and Barnett & Co in Peachtree City.

It’s been fun for the two to see the collection out and about around town and see the response. “Putting our prints on paddles hits a niche market,” says Burch. “We definitely hit on something that was missing. Our paddles play well, but they look really pretty and come in a beautiful branded case people like to show off.” Catone, who is an active pickleball player, recalls a recent run-in. “I was at a tournament, and there were so many women that showed up with the paddles and in the dresses or skirts. A team of two signed up, and the pair did the Palm Beach pattern. They had the paddles, and one was in a dress and one was in a skirt. That was really cool to see,” she says.