– South by Southwest announced a wrestling-themed panel for this year’s convention. “Fashion & Wardrobe Design/Styling in Professional Wrestling,” hosted by Candace Cordelia Smith, is scheduled for March 9 at the Austin Convention Center. Here’s a full description of the panel from SXSW:
Fashion Takes Center Stage at SXSW: Panel Explores Wardrobe Design & Styling in Professional Wrestling
A Dynamic Discussion on the Intersection of Fashion, Performance, and Storytelling in the World of Wrestling
Austin, TX – February 19, 2025 – This year at SXSW, fashion and wrestling collide in an electrifying panel, “Fashion & Wardrobe Design/Styling in Professional Wrestling”, hosted by Candace Cordelia Smith, an industry insider, Pro Wrestling Illustrated columnist, and on-camera host with extensive experience in both entertainment and sports. Taking place at the Austin Convention Center on March 9 at 4:00 pm CST, this must-attend discussion will dive into the evolving role of fashion and costume design in professional wrestling, an often-overlooked yet integral element of storytelling and branding in the industry.
From the ornate robes of Gorgeous George to the punk-inspired aesthetics of modern indie wrestlers, wardrobe choices in professional wrestling have long been a critical tool in shaping character identity, enhancing narratives, and engaging audiences worldwide. This panel will explore the artistry behind wrestling fashion along with the creative forces shaping the looks of today’s top wrestlers outside the ring directly from some of the hands and minds of those responsible for them.
Panelists include Los Angeles-based fashion stylist King Troi, costume designer and sewist Sarath Ton, and fashion & wrestling designer Yolanda The Designer. These industry experts, whose collective work spans across the WWE, All Elite Wrestling, TNA, and other major and independent wrestling promotions, along with work in TV, film, music, and fashion, will provide insight into their career journeys, insider perspectives on costume construction and fashion styling, the future of fashion in wrestling, and more.
“Over the years, I’ve witnessed a surge in interest not just for professional wrestling, but also in the fashionable looks seen on the wrestlers themselves both in and out of the ring,” says Candace Cordelia. “My panel at SXSW will shine a spotlight on three key industry players — King Troi, Sarath Ton, and Yolanda The Designer — whose enduring work in wrestling, entertainment, and fashion continue to help bring the visual identities of many celebrated athletes to life, while also exploring the broader cultural impact of fashion, design, and style in wrestling and beyond.”
Whether you’re a wrestling fan, a fashion enthusiast, or someone intrigued by the intersection of sports and style, this panel promises an engaging and insightful conversation about one of wrestling’s most visually compelling elements.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit
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