The sport inspired fashion market has annual sales in the billions of dollars. In this very competitive and rapidly changing market, the major manufacturers seek ways to retain previous customers and attract new one to their brands.
PUMA sponsored Serena Williams in 2002 and both attracted much attention when Serena wore the revealing PUMA catsuit while winning the 2002 US Open in New York City. There was an associated controversy when Thommy Haas showed up on court to play wearing a sleeveless shirt and tournament officials made him change to a short-sleeved shirt citing the clothing rules of the tournament. The media pointed out this ludicrous interpretation of rules and stories ran in major newspapers around the world with photographs showing Thommy in his barred sleeveless shirt compared to Serena playing in her body revealing catsuit outfit.
The catsuit was displayed in the 'Sport: more than heroes and legends' exhibition (September 2003 - July 2004 and for the Australian tour, August 2004 - November 2006) to show the changes in women's tennis fashion from 1896 to 2002 and to point out the double standard in the rules governing men's and women's tennis clothing.
As PUMA is one of the world's major sportswear makers it was desirable to represent their products in the exhibition.
This 'catsuit' tennis outfit was designed and made by PUMA in 2002. PUMA sponsored Serena Williams for a few years (the sponsorship ended in early 2003) and produced a line of clothing under her name. This model is the same as one of the outfits that Serena wore as part of this sponsorship.
The catsuit was donated new and unused by PUMA's Australian head office. It is the same model and colour as one worn by Serena Williams at the US Open in 2002.
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