Ffion Appleton Jones Talks Innovation at Centerline Athletics

Centerline Athletics is built on a simple idea: performance first. That mindset was front and center when Florida Tennis sat down with Centerline Athletics Apparel Designer, Ffion Appleton Jones, whose resume includes more than 25 years working with some of the biggest names in sportswear, including Nike, Adidas, and Puma. Now helping to shape the future of Centerline Athletics, Ffion spoke about what separates great sportswear from good sportswear, how athlete feedback drives design, and why innovation matters so much in racquet sports. From fabric technology to fit sessions, every detail comes back to one goal: helping athletes perform to the best of their ability.

“What really attracted me to Centerline was the athlete first approach,” Ffion emphasized. “It was all about performance and respecting the athlete and what they need from the product.” She explained that too many brands can get lost chasing trends, while Centerline stays focused on utility. “The aesthetic is very clean and minimal, but everything is there for a reason. It’s about improving the athlete’s game or at the very least not distracting from it.” That balance between style and function is what drew her in and what continues to shape every collection.

That mindset was shaped long before Centerline. “I’ve been doing this for over 25 years,” Ffion said, reflecting on her time designing for some of the sport’s biggest brands. “You always have to think about the end use. What is the athlete doing? What do they need? What could make them better?” Instead of designing from a purely visual standpoint, she starts with the athlete’s movement, needs, and routine. “That’s the most critical part of sportswear design.”

One of the products she is most proud of is Centerline’s AirLite™ T-shirt. “It’s probably the product I’m most proud of,” she said. “The quality is beautiful, it has a really soft hand feel, there’s stretch, and it works both on and off the court.” The shirt is built around Centerline’s AirLite™ concept, a lightweight perforated jersey fabric designed for moisture management and comfort. “It’s only 130 grams, it’s moisture wicking, and it’s perfect for high-intensity sports like pickleball and tennis.”

Listening plays a major role in that process. “We interview athletes all the time,” she said. “What do they like? What do they dislike? What’s missing?” That feedback shapes everything from fabric choices to cut lines. “Performance should inform the trend,” she said. “If you’re designing for tennis, pickleball, running, football, they all require something different. You can’t just design one thing and hope it works for everyone.”

Another standout innovation is GripTek® “Some athletes have really sweaty palms,” Ffion explained. “They’re constantly wiping their hands on their shorts. We created Grip Tech paneling and pocket linings so they can wipe their hands without distraction.”

Above: Centerline Athletics  GripTek® Shorts.

“We are never satisfied,” she said. “We’re always researching, always trying to improve the fabrics and make the next product even better.” Right now, that includes exploring fabrics that create a “cotton hand feel” while still delivering elite performance. “People want that natural feel, but they still want moisture wicking, stretch, and all-day comfort. Everything moving forward has to have that premium look and hand feel.”

The latest innovation for Centerline Athletics, ThermaTekº, continues the brand’s performance-first approach, designed to maximize performance with technology that helps your body stay in its natural comfort zone. Built around temperature-regulating fabrics that keep you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold, the collection reflects Centerline’s ongoing focus on delivering comfort and function without distraction.

Looking ahead, Ffion plans to keep pushing for innovation. Trade shows, fabric testing, and product development remain a constant part of her schedule as she searches for what could be next in court sports. “I’m always looking for new innovation that could disrupt the market,” she said. That curiosity keeps Centerline moving forward and keeps athletes at the center of every decision. 

For Ffion, the mission at Centerline stays simple: create products that help players feel better, move better, and compete better. In a sport where details matter, that kind of thinking can make all the difference.

Full Interview

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Written by Assistant Editor, Alex Binstok. Photos courtesy of Ffion Appleton Jones/Centerline Athletics