At first glance, fashion and bowling don’t seem to have much in common, but you’d be surprised how many fashion houses and designers are inspired by bowling aesthetics. And we’re not just talking about outfits we pick for a night at the lanes. Nor about the dilemma of whether to dress completely sporty and casual or maybe pull something out of the closet that we save for “special occasions.”
Let’s clear that up right away: bowling is a fun game where everyone can come dressed in whatever makes them feel most comfortable. If that’s a tracksuit – perfect. Jeans? Great. A dress? Absolutely. The point is to have fun and feel good.
What you definitely can’t avoid are bowling shoes – and people either find them okay or downright ugly. Somehow, it feels like there’s no middle ground. But they do serve their purpose, and when you see that everyone at the bowling alley is wearing them, it kind of warms you – or rather comforts you – with a sense of belonging. 😊
At first glance, fashion and bowling don’t seem to have much in common, but you’d be surprised how many fashion houses and designers draw inspiration from bowling aesthetics. And we’re not just talking about the outfits we pick for a night at the bowling alley. Nor about the dilemmas we sometimes have – should we dress sporty and casual, or is it the right occasion to bring out those pieces we’ve been saving “for special occasions”?
Let’s clear that up right away: bowling is a fun game where everyone can come dressed in whatever makes them feel most comfortable. Tracksuit? Perfect. Jeans? Great. A dress? Absolutely. The whole point is to have fun and feel good.
What you definitely can’t avoid are bowling shoes – and you either find them OK or just plain ugly. Somehow, it feels like there’s no middle ground. But they serve their purpose, and when you see that everyone at the bowling alley is wearing them, it kind of warms you – or rather comforts you – with a sense of belonging. 😊
Bowling shirts, shoes, and bags have become iconic pieces that occasionally come back into focus thanks to their retro aesthetic and comfort. The loose-fit shirts, often in contrasting colors and prints, became popular in the 1950s and later returned through vintage and retro trends. Bowling bags have transformed into practical fashion accessories, especially loved by women for their functionality and unique shape.
- Marc Jacobs – Spring/Summer 2016: combined a kitschy yet glamorous look with vibrant details, colors, and vintage elements. The campaign evoked the pop culture atmosphere of the 1980s and 1990s.
- Miu Miu – Resort 2018: shot by renowned photographer Alasdair McLellan, featuring models such as Elle Fanning and Doutzen Kroes. The setting perfectly matched an aesthetic that blended retro glamour with youthful energy.
- Diesel – Be Stupid (2020): the “Be Stupid” campaign was provocative, emphasizing fun, carefreeness, and breaking norms.
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- Tower Center Rijeka – Spring/Summer 2022: a striking campaign showcasing outfits, setting, and photography, brought together by agency Fabula, photographer Filip Gržinčić, and stylist Ivana Pirizović. Certainly one of Tower’s most notable campaigns – though maybe we’re just being subjective, so we’ll let you be the judge.
Bowling shirts, shoes, and bags have become iconic pieces that occasionally come back into focus thanks to their retro aesthetic and comfort. The loose-fit shirts, often in contrasting colors and prints, became popular in the 1950s and later returned through vintage and retro trends. Bowling bags have transformed into practical fashion accessories, especially loved by women for their functionality and unique shape.
Creatives have long recognized bowling as the perfect location for unusual or retro campaigns, often tied to vintage or sports culture. The same idea guided some major fashion houses, which filmed some of their most successful campaigns inspired in part by bowling aesthetics and culture.
- Marc Jacobs – Spring/Summer 2016: combined a kitschy yet glamorous look with vibrant details, colors, and vintage elements. The campaign evoked the pop culture atmosphere of the 1980s and 1990s.
- Miu Miu – Resort 2018: shot by renowned photographer Alasdair McLellan, featuring models such as Elle Fanning and Doutzen Kroes. The setting perfectly matched an aesthetic that blended retro glamour with youthful energy.
- Diesel – Be Stupid (2020): the “Be Stupid” campaign was provocative, emphasizing fun, carefreeness, and breaking norms.
Kooglana itself has also served as the location for successful campaigns, including:
- Tower Center Rijeka – Spring/Summer 2022: a striking campaign showcasing outfits, setting, and photography, brought together by agency Fabula, photographer Filip Gržinčić, and stylist Ivana Pirizović. Certainly one of Tower’s most notable campaigns – though maybe we’re just being subjective, so we’ll let you be the judge.
- Huawei campaign for WATCH FIT 3, 2024: the theme of the campaign was how Generation Z embraces new technology, and the bowling shoes, lane, and pins fit perfectly into the story…
With the arrival of Spark technology, which transforms classic bowling lanes into interactive games through projection mapping and interactive software, we believe that alongside retro and sports campaigns, new and exciting ideas will soon be born among creatives. This will surely attract those who love to be unique and first – because we are the only ones in Croatia with Spark technology.
We’re really curious to see which brand will recognize Kooglana’s potential for their next campaign… we’ll keep you posted! 😊
