Valkyries Style Swap
Rakuten
Work Involved
Campaign Strategy
Creative Development
Video Production
Styling (Set Design, Wardrobe, hmu)
Social Media Strategy
Challenge
Rakuten wanted to showcase its partnership with the Golden State Valkyries in a way that went beyond traditional sponsorship, highlighting brand values and the unique personalities of the players. Both partners wanted to create content that would spark fan engagement and reinforce Rakuten's positioning as a lifestyle brand.
Approach
We developed Rakuten Style Swap, a four-episode video series built around Valkyries style icon Tip Hayes - styling and being styled by her teammates. Each episode featured a unique pairing between players as they selected fashion and beauty products. Our team led the end-to-end process, including concepting and storyboarding, talent management, set styling and wardrobe pulls, hair and makeup integration, and multi-format video production tailored for social.
Results
The series offered a fresh way to communicate Rakuten's value proposition without leaning on overt brand messaging. By putting the brand's value prop into a format that felt natural to players and fun for fans, the series positioned Rakuten and GSV as connectors of culture and fashion. The genuine player-to-player dynamic deepened fan engagement while driving awareness of Rakuten's unique offering.
