As Kristin Juszczyk sat with her husband, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, watching the Kansas City Chiefs game on Jan. 13 from their couch, she had one thing on her mind: Would the red puffer jacket she made for Taylor Swift fit?
“No one will believe this, but it’s true. I had nobody’s measurements,” the designer tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview for her partnership with FedEx.
Looking back at the moment (which she says singlehandedly launched her career), Kristin, who has become the NFL breakout designer of the season, explains how the 14-time Grammy Award winner even got hold of the jacket in the first place.
She explains how, while collaborating with the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Brittany, on a game-day jacket, she decided to shoot her shot and make a matching one for Swift, 34.
“I asked Brittany, ‘Hey, I would be honored to just be able to make something for Taylor. Would you be able to pass it along? Like zero pressure whatsoever. I don’t expect her to wear it. It would just be an honor to gift it to her.’ And she said, ‘Yeah, of course,'” Kristin, who just acquired an NFL licensing deal, says.
“So I googled Taylor Swift’s height, and I just winged it,” she continues, giggling.
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Kristin adds that she only had a week to get the materials shipped to her, make the design, and ship it back out to Brittany. So, working with FedEx helped ensure the jackets would get there on time.
A few days before the game, after she had shipped the jackets, Kristin says she got confirmation from Brittany that she and Swift would be wearing them. Still, she didn’t tell a soul it was happening.
“I was so excited. But again, I was like, who knows? Maybe she’s going to get it and it wouldn’t fit her correctly. So I didn’t want to tell anybody except Kyle, but I wanted to,” she adds.
When the day actually arrived, Kristin says she stressed cleaned her whole house waiting for a Swift sighting.
“Seeing her in it at first was just such a pinch-me moment that she actually wore it, but to me, it was like, ‘Oh my God, it fits her so well. I can’t believe it fits her.’
“I’m so grateful for her. I feel like she’s single-handedly catapulted my career. So I’m extremely grateful for her. And just the amount of support that she gives women and small businesses. I mean, how could you not love Taylor?” she says.
Since then, Kristin says she’s been overwhelmed by the amount of love and support she’s received online. She’s also excited she now has an NFL licensing deal, which grants her the license to use the NFL’s logos on her clothing, including men’s and women’s apparel.
“I’ve been at this for a few years now, and my goal was always to be able to get that NFL licensing deal so I can get fans into my clothing,” she says. “I realized it’s just not enough to just be dressing myself.”
She adds, “So my goal this year was to create a unique design for myself for every single game, and then also to try to dress somebody else, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be able to dress who I’ve dressed.”
“But as much as I’m so honored to be able to dress these celebrities and never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be able to, my true goal has always been to just dress the fans,” Kristin continues. “All I’ve ever wanted to do is walk into the stadium for one of Kyle’s games or any games and just see a fan wearing my designs. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
And thanks to Fedex, she’s been able to keep the business booming and make sure all of her custom looks get to celebrity fans and athletes in time.
“FedEx went above and beyond for me when I was shipping Taylor Lautner, his jacket,” she tells PEOPLE of the custom look she make for Lautner at the Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams game last month. “I feel like I owe my life to FedEx at this point. I make these jackets. I put so much time and energy into it. Just to know that they’re in good hands is so important to me.”
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Just this week, FedEx and Juszczyk surprised quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey with a special puffer vest delivery to celebrate the Niners duo winning the FedEx Air and Ground Players of the Year Awards.
We can’t wait to see more of her designs as the 49ers face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl this Sunday!
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