What does it really mean to be tied to the culture?

In this episode of Tunnel Fits Podcast, we sit down with Heather Saldivar, founder of W Ties, and Jasmine Maietta, founder/CEO of Round21, to talk women’s sports fashion, community-driven brands, and how style becomes identity.

Heather shares how a single upcycled tie turned into a movement embraced across women’s basketball, while Jasmine breaks down how Round21 blends sport, art, and culture into wearable storytelling. Together, they unpack what it takes to build authentic brands in women’s sports without losing cultural integrity.

We get into:

How W Ties and Round21 came together for a collaboration rooted in purpose

Why accessories and apparel carry meaning beyond the fit

Building community-first brands in women’s sports

Fashion as storytelling, identity, and resistance

Staying authentic while scaling in a hype-driven industry

This conversation is for anyone passionate about WNBA culture, women-led brands, streetwear, sneakers, and sports fashion — and for creatives looking to build something that actually lasts.

If you care about sport, style, and culture colliding, this one’s for you.