Locals Launch Innovative Pickleball Clothing Line

Wendi and Jason Aspes are riding the big wave in tandem with the popularity of pickleball to debut a line of clothing, Wringer Wear, five years in the making. Wendi Aspes was an avid tennis player who constantly battled the Atlanta heat and wanted apparel that helped her perform better.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and when Jason and Wendi took up pickleball, lobbing through the humid Atlanta summers, they got to work creating Wringer Wear, a cutting-edge pickleball apparel brand “designed by players, for players whose mission it is to enhance on-court performance through innovative clothing solutions.”

Jason Aspes is also the president of the UPA-A, the regulatory body that governs professional pickleball. Wendi Aspes is married to Jason’s brother Adam Aspes.

With patented DRYV technology, their apparel features dual-layer performance fabric that pulls moisture away and absorbs it quickly — like a towel built right into the clothes to ensure dry hands and a secure grip during intense matches.

Wendi explained, “Our player-centric design means every product is crafted with the question, ‘Will this help us play better?’ guiding our development process. We want stylish performance: beyond functionality, our designs ensure players look as good off the court as they perform on it.”

With goods manufactured in China, Wringer Wear has proprietary wipe zones on both skirts and shorts that are designed to be easily accessible and allow quickly wiping the sweat from hands without stopping play. They have compression shorts built into the bottoms with pockets for ease of wear. The outer layers are hydrophobic, so water is repelled keeping players cool and dry.

She added, “Wringer Wear is built to provide a competitive advantage. Keeping your hands dry is essential. Sweaty hands can affect your focus, which can lead to missed opportunities and unforced errors.”

Some samples prices: mesh logo hats ($35); men’s performance shorts ($85); short sleeve shirts ($45); ladies Moab skirts ($75); women’s hoodie or sweatshirts ($98); women’s tank tops ($45); wide leg pants ($88).

Style-wise, pickleball has traditionally tended to be a little less formal, more T-shirts than collared shirts, like tennis or golf. Wendi explained, “Comfort has been the main focus in pickleball. But we definitely believe in having style out there, without sacrificing comforts. And by adding in the functionality, we believe we have a winner in Wringer.”

In terms of expanding the product line into paddles, balls, and equipment, Wendi doesn’t rule that out. “We are focused on apparel that can improve your game and keep you looking and playing your best. If we can design and build a new product that can serve that mission, we might pursue it.”

Wringer Wear is available in selected clubs and stores around the country. Wendi concluded, “Pickleball is a community sport. It’s grassroots and in the spirit of the sport, we are doing our best to reach players on all courts. We go to lots of events and tournaments and sell directly from our website www.wringerwear.com.”

Jason grew up in Sandy Springs and went to Riverwood High School onto The University of Florida. Wendi grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Colgate University. She met Jason’s brother, Adam, in New York City after college, then moved to Atlanta in 2006. Jason plays at a high competitive level (4.5), while Wendi is a 3.5-level player. Keeping pickleball in the family, Adam and nephew, Shai, recently medaled in the ATL PPA Slam Tournament. They are members of The Temple and Wendi is on the board of National Council of Jewish Women.

Watch for Taylor (Wendi’s youngest) celebrate her bat mitzvah in November. Wendi exclaimed, “Possible pickleball theme!”

Pickleball Tips from Wendi Aspes

Practice: Nothing will improve your game more than drilling. If you can find a partner that is as ambitious and dedicated, there is no better way to improve quickly.
Lessons: Find a great teacher who can identify opportunities to improve your game. It’s amazing how much the right guidance can help.