From The Court To Couture: Cade Cunningham x MGB360 Join Forces With Balmain For NYFW
Athletes have morphed into style icons and cultural leaders who influence global dialogue.
Photography by Yomira
On Monday, September 15, NBA star Cade Cunningham, alongside ModernBLKGirl360, came together during New York Fashion Week to shine a vibrant light on the evolving relationship between fashion, athleticism, and culture. While we’ve known NBA players to uphold a certain cultural cache in the past, this collaboration underscores a newfound reality: athletes have morphed into style icons and cultural leaders who influence global dialogue.
“For me, this partnership was deeply personal,” says Tiffany James, founder of MBG360. “I began my career in fashion, attending shows across the world and working in fashion hospitality. Fashion was my first language, and today, as I lead in finance, I see clearly how money, culture, and high fashion are inseparable.”
Photography by Yomira
Taking place at the signature Balmain flagship store in Manhattan, Cunningham led the charge on hosting the illustrious event. Some of the heaviest hitters in the room include Ari Lennox, Jackie Aina, Lance Fresh, Patrick Beverly, and Kem. WNBA stars Rickea Jackson and Te’a Cooper were in the building as well.
“Fashion needs culture,” says James. “Culture thrives through sport, and sport is producing the new generation of celebrities. This collaboration was about honoring that truth.”
Photography by Yomira
Founded in 1945, Balmain is one of the world’s most luxurious fashion houses. Known for its bold vision and dedication to craftsmanship, Balmain has become a leading entity when it comes to shaping culture through the conduits of innovative design and synergy with global leaders.
For his inaugural NYFW look, Cunningham was styled by Amiraa Vee and wore a navy Balmain to the event. Known for its stature as a “pioneering community built to empower women with wealth education worldwide,” MBG360 has prided itself on shaping the future at the intersection of money, culture, and influence.
“Fashion was my first language,” says James. “And today, as I lead in finance, I see clearly how money, culture, and high fashion are inseparable.”
