--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first started designing…" description: "\"When I first started designing sportswear, I felt that women weren't represented in sports performance. I felt that men were dressed really well both t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/stella-mccartney-3467_men_when-i-first-started-designing-sportswea_1773590.jpg" --- # When I first started designing sportswear, I felt that… ![“When I first started designing sportswear, I felt that women weren't represented in sports performance. I felt that men were dressed really well both technically and visually, and women were almost like an afterthought.” quote by Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/stella-mccartney-3467_men_when-i-first-started-designing-sportswea_1773590.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/stella-mccartney-3467_men_when-i-first-started-designing-sportswea_1773590.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/stella-mccartney-3467_men_when-i-first-started-designing-sportswea_1773590.jpg) > “When I first started designing sportswear, I felt that women weren't represented in sports performance. I felt that men were dressed really well both technically and visually, and women were almost like an afterthought.” [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The designer observes gender bias in sportswear, noting women are often overlooked compared to men’s technically and visually appealing designs. **In simple terms:** Women are under‑represented in sports apparel design. Key Takeaway Advocate for equal design focus. Themes gender equality design sportswear representation Mood critical inspirational Type industry social When to use this quote - sports team uniforms - marketing strategies - product development Key Concepts fashion industry gender bias Questions to Reflect On - How can designers ensure women’s needs are met? - What steps can brands take to promote equity? A Different Perspective Changing consumer demand alone may not shift industry norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Designing Sportswear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designing-sportswear-1801153/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Represented Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/represented-sports-1801155/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Sportswear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sportswear-278738/) [Sportswear Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sportswear-felt-1801154/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Visually Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visually-women-1801156/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [I personally love sportswear, and love using it in high fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-personally-love-sportswear-and-love-using-it-in-high-fashion/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I love sportswear in my own weird way. Fashion is such a personal journey for me. I'm much more of a girl that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-wang/i-love-sportswear-in-my-own-weird-way-fashion-is-such-a-personal/) [Vera Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-wang/) > [There's this British elegance that we, at times, have really missed in the States. We've always been more of a sportswear culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/there-s-this-british-elegance-that-we-at-times-have-really-missed-in/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I like to feel comfortable in what I'm wearing, so I do wear a lot of sportswear. Not football training stuff, but mostly casual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-sturridge/i-like-to-feel-comfortable-in-what-i-m-wearing-so-i-do-wear-a-lot-of/) [Daniel Sturridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-sturridge/) > [Dancewear is very different from sportswear. Sportswear doesn't quite suit what we need to do with our bodies, so I'm always fiddling with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-hayward/dancewear-is-very-different-from-sportswear-sportswear-doesn-t-quite/) [Francesca Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-hayward/) > [Even in the good sportswear, streetwear brands, you can't find that quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-lemaire/even-in-the-good-sportswear-streetwear-brands-you-can-t-find-that/) [Christophe Lemaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-lemaire/) > [“I have often noticed that people who routinely wear sportswear are the least likely sort to participate in athletic activity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/i-have-often-noticed-that-people-who-routinely-wear-sportswear-are/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [We have been around in the States in the ski wear market since the 1950s, but now we feel we can compete in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willy-bogner-jr/we-have-been-around-in-the-states-in-the-ski-wear-market-since-the/) [Willy Bogner, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willy-bogner-jr/) > [Sportswear and activewear have been evolving over the years, and what makes it interesting is how you reflect the culture in which we're living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lauren/sportswear-and-activewear-have-been-evolving-over-the-years-and-what/) [David Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lauren/) > [You won't feel inferior in my sportswear!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skepta/you-won-t-feel-inferior-in-my-sportswear/) [Skepta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skepta/) > [If you ever see me in a social setting wearing any sort of sportswear, then you know I'm in crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nighy/if-you-ever-see-me-in-a-social-setting-wearing-any-sort-of-sportswear/) [Bill Nighy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nighy/) > [Sportswear is great, but not every designer can do tailored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-abboud/sportswear-is-great-but-not-every-designer-can-do-tailored/) [Joseph Abboud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-abboud/) > [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [Certainly the most requested song in performance is 'Love is Here to Stay,' and that is a favorite for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-feinstein/certainly-the-most-requested-song-in-performance-is-love-is-here-to/) [Michael Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-feinstein/) > [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) ## More by Stella McCartney > [I love a pocket. I'm about helping women look as good as possible on the least amount of effort. I want versatility and comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-love-a-pocket-i-m-about-helping-women-look-as-good-as-possible-on/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I personally love sportswear, and love using it in high fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-personally-love-sportswear-and-love-using-it-in-high-fashion/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I loved all those Doris Day visuals of her being a tomboy and then changing into this gorgeous girl in a ballgown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-loved-all-those-doris-day-visuals-of-her-being-a-tomboy-and-then/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [People think I'm strong, but actually I wanted to crawl away. I thought, I'm going to live in the country with my horse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/people-think-i-m-strong-but-actually-i-wanted-to-crawl-away-i-thought/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [The consumption of animals - whether you're wearing them or eating them - is extraordinarily damaging to the planet. There are over a billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/the-consumption-of-animals-whether-you-re-wearing-them-or-eating-them/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [Strength on its own in a woman is quite abrasive and not terribly attractive all the time,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/strength-on-its-own-in-a-woman-is-quite-abrasive-and-not-terribly/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I never wanted to make it too easy for people to sum me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-never-wanted-to-make-it-too-easy-for-people-to-sum-me-up/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I grew up on an organic farm in England. And I was a vegetarian from an early age - not just for health, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-grew-up-on-an-organic-farm-in-england-and-i-was-a-vegetarian-from/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I don't know, maybe I'm overly paranoid that they're going to be spoiled, but I want to keep them going as kids for as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-don-t-know-maybe-i-m-overly-paranoid-that-they-re-going-to-be/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [When I say I don't do fur or leather, in my world it's a massive shock, but when it comes into the sporting arena,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/when-i-say-i-don-t-do-fur-or-leather-in-my-world-it-s-a-massive-shock/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [What you wear in the evening is important for women because it's so personal, and it's so complicated to get it right. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/what-you-wear-in-the-evening-is-important-for-women-because-it-s-so/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I think it took me a little while to be true to myself as a designer, and in some ways I'm still trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-think-it-took-me-a-little-while-to-be-true-to-myself-as-a-designer/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [What I really want, what I always really want, is baked potato and grilled cheese. But then I'd be really fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/what-i-really-want-what-i-always-really-want-is-baked-potato-and/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I was brought up in a way that was based purely on the senses. Everything in my upbringing was a reaction to growing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-was-brought-up-in-a-way-that-was-based-purely-on-the-senses/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I run a lot. If I don't have time to go to the gym or don't have time to work out properly, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-run-a-lot-if-i-don-t-have-time-to-go-to-the-gym-or-don-t-have-time/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) [Explore all 130 Stella McCartney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) ## More Fashion quotes > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Never in a million years would I imagine Calvin Klein flying me out to my first men's fashion show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dallas/never-in-a-million-years-would-i-imagine-calvin-klein-flying-me-out/) [Cameron Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dallas/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [No one knows whom the shoe pinches - no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-aleichem/no-one-knows-whom-the-shoe-pinches-no-one/) [Sholom Aleichem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-aleichem/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [I have always been too round to do fashion shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/i-have-always-been-too-round-to-do-fashion-shows/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. 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