Cruise Control Gear: Where Fashion Meets Tennis

Tennis and fashion have long gone hand in hand, but few brands merge them as seamlessly as Cruise Control Gear. At the 2025 Delray Beach Open, Florida Tennis Magazine's Matt Pressman sat down with Candice Kolins, co-owner of Cruise Control Gear, to discuss the inspiration behind the brand, its unique features, and its impact on the tennis community.

Kolins' love for tennis started early. "My parents introduced me to the sport, and I used to travel nationwide with my sister, playing tournaments and USTA matches," she shared. That passion led her to compete at the Division I level for Villanova University. "It was such an awesome experience, great competition."

Left: Cruise Control Gear co-owner Candice played #1 at Villanova. Right: Her sister (and co-owner) Kristen competed as captain at Princeton. Source: Cruise Control Gear.

Yet tennis wasn’t her only love. "I always had a passion for fashion, so I wanted to combine my two loves of fashion and tennis—and that's how Cruise Control began."

As a brand, Cruise Control Gear is more than just stylish—it’s performance-driven. "We pride ourselves on beautiful performance fabrics that are ethically sourced," Kolins explained. "Our apparel offers UPF 50+ sun protection, is soft and comfortable, and features moisture-wicking technology that makes it great for playing on and off the court."

The brand caters to men, women, and kids. "We have a great selection for everyone, and I'm actually wearing Cruise Control Gear right now!" she added, showing off her outfit.

Above: Florida Tennis Editor Matt Pressman with the Colins family at the Delray Beach Open. Source: Florida Tennis.

Kolins' daughter, Sienna, also made an appearance during the interview. "She’s wearing the pleated skort," Kolins said proudly. "She’s one of our tennis players. She's eight years old and already playing USTA tournaments."

The inspiration for the brand’s new kids' line? "Now that I have my own daughter and my nephew who also plays, they inspired me to design for kids—the future tennis stars of America."

Beyond fashion, Cruise Control Gear is dedicated to supporting the tennis community. "We are sponsored with USTA Middle States and helped supply some shirts for the USTA Foundation," Kolins noted. "We just love giving back and being part of this awesome tennis community. Any way we can contribute is a blessing."

Above: Carla Erskine was Miss Florida 2019 and a former Villanova tennis teammate with Candice. Source: Cruise Control Gear.

Cruise Control Gear has caught the eye of many prominent figures in the sport. "My good friend Carla Erskine, who was a phenomenal player for Villanova, wears our brand and models for us," Kolins said. "She was also Miss Florida!"

But the biggest highlight? "My sister and I had the pleasure of playing with the Bryan Brothers at an event. Their serve was unreal—it jumped so high over my head!" she recalled with a laugh.

For those looking to up their tennis wardrobe, Kolins had good news. "Shop online anytime at www.cruisecontrolgear.com," she said. "And we are so happy to be part of Florida Tennis Magazine that we’d love to give readers a special 30% off discount! Enter promo code FLORIDATENNIS30 during checkout at cruisecontrolgear.com to receive the discount."

With a brand that blends fashion, performance, and community, Cruise Control Gear is making waves in the tennis world—one stylish outfit at a time.

Exclusive Interview

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Written by Florida Tennis Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Video interview by Florida Tennis Editor Matt Pressman. Source: Florida Tennis. Top photo: Cruise Control Gear.