I started developing Common Courtesy in 2024 after four years of sitting on the idea and dreaming about what it could become.

I’ve been playing tennis since I was six years old. I competed through high school and played one year of college tennis at a small school near my hometown in Indiana before transferring out of state to pursue a degree in fashion. After graduation, I worked for a startup clothing brand in Dallas — and when that didn’t go as planned, I found myself in a season of uncertainty. My days were split between job applications and hitting balls on a public court with a ball machine.

One of those days, I was offered a coaching job. My immediate thought was no. But needing the income, I agreed to help for a month.

That month turned into two years.

I even tried leaving to return to apparel — but somehow, I always found myself back to tennis. I fell in love with tennis in a completely new way. I loved the community, my coworkers, my clients, the sunshine, and the long days outside. Even on the hard days — the ones where I questioned if I was cut out to coach — there was nowhere else I would have rather been.

During that time, I was trying to define my teaching philosophy. Growing up as a competitor, I was (and still am) incredibly hard on myself. My mental game often cost me matches. In doubles, my partner's visible frustration would drain my energy and confidence. And over the years, I saw how girls could sometimes treat each other on court — as partners and opponents — and it left me with a bitter taste.

What I began to notice was this: I was coaching my players the way I wished I had spoken to myself. With grace, lots of encouragement, and positivity.

I wanted tennis to feel fun — no matter what someone brought with them onto the court that day.

I think often about a girl I competed with in high school. She always had a smile on her face. She laughed at her mistakes. She treated opponents with kindness and respect. She looked almost unserious — but she rarely lost. She wasn’t effortless in her desire to win. She was effortless in her joy.

That’s who I wanted to become.

Tennis is hard. Competition is hard. Growth is hard. But when you offer yourself a little grace — a little courtesy — everything shifts.

Common Courtesy was born from that realization.

It bridges my love of apparel and tennis, creating pieces that reflect a mentality: show up, play, look cool, but never forget why you started playing in the first place. To move your body. To connect. To challenge yourself. To have fun.

My hope is to build a community that lifts each other up, prioritizes joy alongside performance, and honors the class and spirit of the sport — all while looking incredible on the court.

After moving to California, Common Courtesy began production in Los Angeles in 2025. Each piece is made in small batches, allowing for a hands-on approach to quality and detail. Producing locally keeps me closely connected to the people and processes behind every garment, ensuring care, integrity, and thoughtful craftsmanship at every step.