Indiana – Under the bright lights of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Indiana Pacers prepare for battle on the hardwood, something entirely different stole the spotlight on April 11—style. But not just any style. This was the creation of an Indiana University student, brought to life and worn by none other than Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith. The moment marked a powerful crossover between sports and fashion, and for senior Jenna Reed, it was a surreal and defining milestone.
Reed, who is pursuing a dual degree in fashion design from the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and advertising from The Media School, earned the chance to have her custom-designed “tunnel fit” worn by an NBA player thanks to IU Bloomington’s third annual Fashion Within Sports event. Hosted by the Retail Studies Organization, the competition offers fashion and merchandising students a rare peek into the fast-paced, competitive world of athlete styling. This year, it culminated in a real-life showcase: Nesmith donning Reed’s design as he walked the iconic tunnel toward the Pacers locker room.
The NBA tunnel has evolved into an influential fashion runway. Athletes, especially in the last decade, have transformed their pregame walk-ins into a moment of personal expression and branding. What was once just a functional entrance has become a carefully curated stage where elite players show off designer clothing, collaborate with stylists, and often set trends. These so-called “tunnel fits” have spilled into other major sports leagues like the NFL, WNBA, and MLS. For athletes, it’s a way to communicate who they are. For brands, it’s valuable real estate. And for students like Reed, it’s a golden opportunity to make a name.
“I kind of zoned out because I was very nervous,” Reed admitted, recalling the moment she presented her concept to Nesmith during the panel event back in February. Despite her nerves, Reed’s preparation paid off. She arrived with her ideas organized, having created technical design “flats” that showcased every component of the outfit. Even more impressively, she had taken time to research Nesmith’s personal history, a decision that would later prove crucial.
Reed read an article in the Indianapolis Star and discovered a formative story from Nesmith’s youth: when he was just 12 years old, he helped his father clear an 18-acre parcel of land in South Carolina. On that same property, his mother found koi fish, and with Nesmith’s help, began a business selling them. This story sparked Reed’s creative direction. She pulled the orange, black, and white colors from koi fish and added a splash of blue for visual depth. The final result was a soft blue knit sweater, edgy black-and-white color-block cargo pants with orange loops, and a matching scarf printed digitally with the same color scheme.
“She was able to connect with him,” said Dan Solomon, an IU alum who has built a career as a stylist for professional athletes. “The colors she chose were also great for his specific style. When you’re styling someone, you have to do the research and create something that is in the lane of the person you’re dressing.”
Solomon is no stranger to the hustle of fashion. A self-proclaimed “sneakerhead” from Long Island, he began reselling shoes at age 11. That love for style eventually led him to launch Fly Solo Consulting, his own brand consulting service for athletes. He also played a critical role in establishing Fashion Within Sports, pitching the idea to the Retail Studies Organization three years ago as a way to bridge his passions and give back to IU.
“I got into the athlete thing because of IU,” Solomon said. He credits friendships with former Hoosiers like Noah Vonleh and OG Anunoby, both future NBA draft picks, as the launchpad for his athlete styling career. From helping OG source clothes to running pop-up shops in hotel rooms across the country, Solomon has become a go-to stylist for players during events like NBA Summer League. That first year, his pop-up shop was the only one there. Now, there are more than 10. His idea has become the blueprint for others in the industry.
By offering students like Reed a platform to showcase their work in front of real athletes and fashion pros, Solomon and the Fashion Within Sports team have opened a pipeline that blends education with experience. In 2023, when Solomon invited Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton to judge the student designs, the event helped then-student Emma Taylor secure a design victory and her first post-graduation job in New York City. This year, it was her close friend Reed’s turn to shine.
“It’s been a really special opportunity for me to see Jenna win because we’re actually very good friends,” Taylor said.
Reed learned that she’d won the competition while on a spring break road trip with Taylor and other friends. There was no time to celebrate—at least not for long. The clock was ticking. The game where Nesmith would wear her design was approaching fast.
“I was like ‘Guys, I need to get yarn,’ so we actually ran out to Hobby Lobby that day,” Reed laughed.
From that point forward, her days were consumed with making the garments. Every spare moment—morning and night—was spent knitting. “Whenever I wake up, I knit. Whenever I go to bed, I knit,” she said. “I’m going to get carpal tunnel sometime soon.”
Once the look was nearly complete, she turned to instructors at the Eskenazi School for feedback and final touches. Together, they refined the garments before shipping them to the Pacers’ arena for Nesmith to wear.
And then it happened. On April 11, as the Pacers were set to take the floor for a home game, Nesmith emerged from the locker room tunnel wearing Reed’s outfit. The moment was captured in a now widely circulated photo posted by the Pacers. Reed and her friends were in the stands, beaming with pride. They even got the rare chance to explore the behind-the-scenes spaces of the stadium after the game, including the practice courts.
“I felt so proud of myself seeing the design on Aaron,” she said. “I was just staring at the photo the Pacers posted and was so in shock with how good it looked.”
For Reed, the journey from student designer to featured NBA stylist in just a matter of weeks was both thrilling and exhausting. But more than anything, it was confirmation that her creativity, work ethic, and vision had paid off. In a field where breaking through often seems out of reach, this one experience changed everything.
And for IU, it’s another example of how merging industries—sports and fashion, design and athletics—can give students real-world exposure that opens doors far beyond the classroom. As the Fashion Within Sports event continues to grow, so too will the opportunities it brings.
One tunnel, one outfit, one moment—but an experience that may shape a career.
