Eastside Golf has officially launched its first women’s line in response to growing demand, aligning with an uptick in female participation in golf. Co-founder and Creative Director Olajuwon Ajanaku explained the approach: “Since our early days, we’ve had women purchasing Eastside Golf items for themselves, and asking us when we’d be entering the women’s category,” he stated. “But we didn’t want to ‘shrink and pink’ our existing products; we wanted to create something authentic and considered. This is why we dedicated additional resources to bringing on designers with extensive expertise in women’s apparel to create items that are both fashionable and functional, and equally at home, on the street or in the clubhouse.”
The decision aligns with data from the National Golf Foundation, which noted that women made up 26 percent of all U.S. golfers in 2023. Eastside Golf, founded in 2019 by former Morehouse College golf team players Ajanaku and CEO Earl Cooper, has also partnered with Mercedes Benz USA on a nine-piece limited collection for women. Cooper highlighted the brand’s commitment to inclusivity: “We are serving women who have, up to this point, not been served by golf apparel brands in the way they deserve — they do not have the clothing options that men do, despite making up a sizeable, and increasing, portion of the golf-playing community,” he stated.
The company, which is projecting $10 million in sales for 2024, emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and authenticity in golf through initiatives like sponsoring Community Golf Days aimed at reducing financial barriers in the sport. This launch marks Eastside Golf’s effort to diversify its offerings in line with other brands like Rhone, Indochino, Carhartt, Nike, and Under Armour, all of which have been expanding their women’s lines.
