At just 28 years old, Ross Kamin has already lived several tennis lives. He grew up immersed in the sport, competing on the USTA junior circuit before playing Division III college tennis. Like many former competitive players, graduation marked a turning point—not an end to tennis, but a shift in how it fit into his life.
“After graduating college, you start playing a little less,” Kamin explained. “You kind of have to figure out a different relationship with tennis… maybe a less competitive aspect of the playing side.”
That transition, paired with a long-standing interest in vintage fashion, eventually led to the creation of Outside Lines Tennis, a brand inspired by the late 1990s and early 2000s—an era Kamin considers tennis apparel’s golden age.
The idea for Outside Lines began about two years ago, when Kamin noticed what he felt was a lack of creativity in the tennis apparel market. “It felt like there was a little bit of a gap,” he said. “Some of the stuff was a little stale. Maybe the bigger brands weren’t putting as much resources into tennis as they once were.”
Rather than focusing strictly on high-performance gear, Outside Lines aims to capture the feeling of tennis, drawing inspiration from a time when quarter-zip polos, plaid shorts, and individual style were more visible on court. “I thought I could do something fun with Outside Lines,” Kamin said. “Something that represented the vibes of tennis more than just the competitive aspect.”
While iconic names like Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras naturally come to mind when discussing tennis fashion from that era, Kamin looks beyond the biggest stars. “I don’t want to just say all the top guys,” he said. “I spend a lot of time browsing old tournament photos on Getty Images.”
One of his favorite inspirations is Florida native Vince Spadea. “He’s a big inspiration for me,” Kamin said. “He developed his own clothing line during his playing career and was always switching brands. He was wearing what he thought was cool. I love guys like that—players who really thought about what they were wearing and how that correlated to their play.”
Kamin also finds inspiration in current players willing to step outside the mainstream. “A current guy I really like is Mattia Bellucci,” he added. “He’s sponsored by an Italian brand and is willing to deviate a little bit from the regular huge brands. I really get behind that.”
One of the defining ideas behind Outside Lines is versatility. The brand’s pieces are designed to feel as natural off the court as they do during a hit. “That was kind of the idea,” Kamin explained. “Stuff you’d want to wear not just playing tennis, but you could keep it on all day—especially with the plaid shorts.”
More than anything, he wants the brand to reconnect players with the joy of the game. “Sometimes, when you’re always playing competitive tennis, you lose the fact that it’s a game and it’s supposed to be fun,” he said. “Outside Lines is about going to the court and having fun with your friends.”
The brand also embraces humor, most notably with its “Dare to Resist Pickleball” shirt, one of Outside Lines’ early releases. “That was just having fun with it,” Kamin said. “There’s a little bit of seriousness, but it’s definitely tongue-in-cheek.” Despite identifying as “a tennis purist at heart,” he is careful not to alienate anyone. “I’ve played pickleball before. It’s fun. I have nothing against it,” he added. “The shirt has been selling well, so it’s nice to see people resonating with it.”
In addition to original apparel, Outside Lines features a vintage section curated from Kamin’s personal collection. “I’ve been going to thrift stores since I was like 13,” he said. “Some of the vintage tennis stuff on the site comes from my own collection.”
That passion for collecting and storytelling extends to the brand’s digital presence, particularly on Instagram. “I use Instagram as a mood board,” Kamin explained. “It reflects what we’re feeling and what we’re working on.”
Another key element of Outside Lines is its ambassador program, designed to support players at all levels. “When I was a junior, I thought it was so cool to be sponsored by a brand,” Kamin said. “I remember trying to prove my ranking just to get discounted clothes.” The program is open to juniors, college players, and teaching pros, offering ambassadors a 50 percent discount and a chance to represent the brand. “If you’re a tennis fanatic, we want to hear from you.”
Outside Lines Tennis is available at outsidelinestennis.com and is most active on Instagram (@outsidelinestennis) where Kamin shares updates, inspiration, and glimpses into upcoming projects.
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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Photo credits: Outside Lines Tennis.