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He’s a 12-time National Basketball Association All-Star, with three championship rings and one eye on a future in fashion. Dwyane Wade has a line of watches, socks and underwear to his name so far. The 34-year-old guard, who will be returning to Chicago, his home city, as a member of the Bulls after 13 seasons with the Miami Heat, recently released his eighth collection of neckties with the Tie Bar, a Chicago-based brand. But his fashion plans go far beyond that.
Why ties? Why not sweatshirts or suits?
It’s really about trying to build a fashion brand slowly. I’m getting into the accessory part first.
Do you remember your first tie?
It was for a school picture. My uncle bought me a clip-on bow tie to wear. It had a little chain hanging from it. I thought I was sharp.
This collection is very floral.
There was a lot of Miami vibe as inspiration. With my ties, you can wear an all-blue, gray or black suit, and it gives the outfit more life.
Since you’ve been in the league, have you noticed an uptick in players’ style?
Way better. When I first got in, a lot of it was the baggy clothes, even suits. The bottom of your shoes is where they laid the suits pants, almost on the floor.
Do you think it’s O.K. for Kanye West to design basketball shoes? It’s not like you’re trying to go into the music business.
There’s that old saying that rappers want to be athletes and athletes want to be rappers, and now we’re in a world that allows people to express that. I’m at fashion shows. I don’t want someone to look at me and say: “What’s he doing here? He should only be at basketball games.”
Remember when Shaq rapped?
I was on his team. He rapped all the time to us. He always played beats on the plane and freestyled. He was really into it.
You wore Public School, the New York label from Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, to the recent C.F.D.A. awards.
They’re one of my favorites. They’re friends as well. I’ve been on those guys from years out. Their clothes are perfect from the standpoint of function and comfort, but it’s on trend, very young and hip-hop as well.
I noticed you weren’t wearing a tie that night.
I wanted the jacket I had on to speak for itself.
You’ve done ties and underwear. What would you like to design next?
I want you to be able to dress in the Dwyane Wade collection from bottom to top.