Power in every stitch: An all-female crew reimagine women’s sportswear.
Baseball season is officially in full swing. As the boys in blue make plays on the field, the women who stand behind them make strides of their own. Their public facing identities as “wags” reduce them to a singular box. Photographer turned director Lauren Pusateri knows this feeling all too well. “I’m more than just a photographer” Pusateri says, “I love telling stories, getting people together and providing opportunities for people to try out different roles they might not have had the opportunities to do before”. The Royals recent collaboration with The Wild Collective, a brand centered on expanding the potential of gameday pieces to beyond the stadium and into the streets, gave her the chance to do just that.
The opportunity to model for the collection was extended to the players and coaches partners by the Royals marketing team. Throughout the previous season, the nine women selected collaborated with The Wild Collective to produce versatile styles that reflected the style wants and needs of the women of the Royals community. Pusateri’s creative vision for the campaign video was “to honor the women who make the Royals organization what it is”. With a background in photography for over 10 years, she found the transition to directing motion pieces to be a simple one.
The collaboration aspect of production became her favorite part of the process. Pusateri recognized the importance of building a team that understands the purpose of the collection, while also giving the space for the wives turned models to feel comfortable in their new roles. When it was time to assemble “a team of creatives and collaborators who could bring this project to life with the same heart that inspired it”, all the right people for the job turned out to be women. “It’s something I prioritize after seeing women get pushed into certain roles for so long”, says Pusateri. Thus, a comfortable environment for the wives turned models to express themselves freely during the shoot was born.
In order to give the clothes a different flavor, Wardrobe Artist Whitney Manning researched the styles of the women and gathered supplemental materials all before ever laying eyes on the collection. Production Designer Ann Alcasabas draped layers of blue fabric from the studio ceiling to create a truly royal backdrop. Across all departments, it was all hands on deck to reflect the essence of this collection on camera. Even the wives themselves got a say in what materials and designs were used and vetoed.
It was evident to all involved that the all female crew proved to be a success. The story expanded to the uniqueness in their bond and how they support their husbands through Pusateri’s direction. Sound bites were captured through interviews with each of the women that reiterated the importance of the purpose of this shoot: revealing their connection to the collection and with one another. “That sense of unity became the heartbeat of the 90-second campaign video we created”. The models and crew members left the shoot feeling like their voices were seen and heard. In the future, Pusateri plans to be a part of more projects like these. “I’m gonna keep doing it because I want to create more opportunities for as long as I can of what hasn’t been there”.
This project is a testament to the kind of work being made in Kansas City; collaborative, thoughtful and rooted in community. It’s a reflection of the talent that exists here and the stories that come to life when people are given the chance to step into new roles, try something different, and support one another along the way. Projects like this may be rare, but they don’t have to be, and in KC, they’re happening more often.
All-female production crews are still the exception, not the norm, especially on branded sports content. The intentional assembly of a team made up entirely of women across every department, from direction to sound to wardrobe, was more than just a statement; it’s a shift. This shift is happening across Kansas City’s creative landscape. With more brands choosing to film here, and more women like Pusateri leading the charge, KC is increasingly seen as a place where inclusive, boundary-pushing work can thrive.
“If you have a desire to change something and you aim for it, you’ll get there. That has always been my driving force“.
Lauren Pusateri