Who’s been busier—or more relevant—lately than Zendaya? During a recent trip to New York, mostly filled with press and the premiere of her buzzy new film The Drama, she found a moment to talk with us about another debut: her first women’s collection for On, the Swiss running and athletic brand she’s been working with for years.
Designed alongside her longtime friend and stylist Law Roach, the collection includes seven pieces—a tank, a T-shirt, an anorak, a coach’s jacket, a midi skirt, parachute pants, and Bermuda shorts—plus a new version of On’s Cloudnova shoe called the Cloudnova Moon. It launches today, supported by a campaign video directed by Spike Jonze. But let’s hear about it from Zendaya and Law themselves.
We caught up with Zendaya from her hotel bed, while Law joined via Zoom from the Project Runway set before rushing off to get her ready for that night’s premiere.
Vogue: When did you start paying attention to style? I imagine it was earlier than most, given your career—but outside of work, have you always cared about what you wear?
Zendaya: It’s funny—my parents really let me express myself through clothes as a kid. Once I was old enough to choose my outfits, they let me dress myself. So I wasn’t the kid in perfectly matched looks for school; I’d just pick whatever I wanted, starting in kindergarten or first grade. The Cheetah Girls was huge for me, so I wore a ton of leopard print—I know it’s not cheetah, but I didn’t know the difference back then.
I love seeing kids in a princess dress with rain boots—they’re just playing with clothes and already showing their personalities. I definitely wore some wild combinations in elementary school, but it was more about what made me feel confident, or whatever color or trend I was into at the time. It was nice because it was before you really understand that people see you a certain way because of your clothes—before you feel judged for what you wear.
Vogue: It’s like a sweet honeymoon phase, right? My daughter is 14 and definitely stresses about outfits now, but before you’re self-conscious, it’s just: why not wear this with that?
Zendaya: Having a 14-year-old now, with social media—it’s totally different. I had YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook, but it wasn’t like today. Thankfully, not all my awkward outfits were documented, and there weren’t endless tutorials or links telling me who to be. You had to figure it out yourself. And I think that exploration is so important—you need to go through awkward phases, to look back at your teenage style and think, “What was I wearing?” Very few people are chic their whole life. Your taste develops as you grow. I’ve always loved experimenting with clothes, and I owe a lot of that to Law.
We started working together when I was 14. I loved fashion, collected magazines, and sometimes made my own clothes. I remember there was this Balmain military jacket by Olivier Rousteing with really exaggerated shoulders—I thought it was the coolest thing, but I could never afford it. So I bought a blazer that looked close and used a hot glue gun to add chains, studs, and embellishments to the shoulders to make it look like that military style.I used to wear this military-style jacket all the time because I thought it was so cool. I was still figuring out my personal style back then. Then I met Law, and he taught me so much about fashion history and how to appreciate it.
How do the two of you work together? Do you show him your closet and your preferences, and does he give you feedback or steer you in a certain direction?
Zendaya: He’s always been like an older sibling to me. We grew up in our careers together, but before that, he had a vintage store in Chicago. His background is in curating vintage clothing. Early on, before I had the opportunity to wear specific designers on the red carpet, I would borrow vintage pieces from his store. We’d talk about fashion history—understanding and appreciating where these clothes came from.
He has a real talent for finding gems. He can walk into any thrift store, vintage shop, or estate sale and immediately spot something special. I have to take my time and look through everything, but he’ll just point and say, “I love this.” Sometimes it’s a rare piece from a certain designer, but he also connects with items regardless of their label.
It’s funny—I’m completely fearless when it comes to experimenting with fashion in my professional life, but in my personal life, I tend to keep things very simple. There’s so much excitement out there, and because I love fashion, I enjoy collecting vintage pieces too. But in my day-to-day life, I often end up wearing the same simple things—almost like a personal uniform.
How did you first discover On or start wearing their products?
Zendaya: I started wearing On because of Challengers, where I played an athlete. I put the shoes on and thought, “Wow—what are these?” Also, Jonathan Anderson was at Loewe at the time, and there was a connection there since he was wearing them too. It felt very natural—I just found them really comfortable.
Law Roach: A lot of people on set were wearing the shoes—not just the athletes, but the crew, like the grips and sound people, because they’re on their feet for hours. She started wearing them and introduced me to the brand. Our partnership developed really organically from there. One of our goals was to bring more of a fashion perspective to it, since that’s such a big part of who we both are.
This collection feels like the coolest take on minimalism—or basic pieces, but it’s even cooler than that. How did it all begin?
Zendaya: We’ve been working with On for a while. This is essentially their women’s collection, and I wanted to influence it in a way that stayed true to On’s identity while experimenting with different silhouettes. I also wanted it to feel easy and accessible for everyone. I’m not a professional athlete, though I really admire the athletes they work with. A lot of their previous clothing was designed specifically for performance. I started thinking: what does an athlete wear in their downtime—when they’re traveling, walking their dog? What would make them feel confident, comfortable, and easy to throw on? The idea is that everything is interchangeable—it’s just endless combinations you can put together for yourself, and it all feels effortless. That’s what I sometimes need in my own life: easy pieces I don’t have to overthink.
But what was the physical process like? How did you go from a concept to finished pieces?
Law Roach: We’re constantly sending ideas back and forth…Our inspirations come from her travels, my travels, runway shows, and my personal archive—all brought together under the guidance of Tim Coppens, On’s VP of apparel design, who we collaborate with closely. We draw from pieces in her closet, items from my archive, and things we’ve observed. For this collection, I visited several vintage stores to gather silhouettes, textures, and fabrics, then brought everything to On’s headquarters in Zurich. There, we touched and felt each piece, had fit models try them on—it’s a hands-on process. Zendaya and I aren’t just putting our names on things; we’re involved in every step, from start to finish.
Do many of these pieces have roots in your own wardrobe? Is this about adapting your personal style for a wider audience?
Zendaya: It’s partly inspired by what I wear, but even more by the idea that movement looks different for everyone. How I move isn’t the same as how someone else moves, and what makes each person feel good in their body is unique. The goal is to support all forms of movement and let people make the pieces their own—like a blank canvas you can customize with your own character and personality.
They’re obviously pieces you wear, but ultimately it’s about the person, right?
Zendaya: Exactly. The pieces are very versatile. Take the pants I love—I wear them differently than Law does, and differently than others I’ve seen. I’ve been having friends and family wear them because I want people to make them their own. It’s fun to see how everyone styles them and incorporates them into their wardrobe. Some use them as activewear—they have that performance capability—while others wear them post-workout, for walks, or hikes. I wear them walking my dogs, but also to meetings or with a blouse for lunch. It’s transformative activewear designed for living in, comfortable for all kinds of occasions.
And as I said, movement is personal. Looking out my hotel window at the park, everyone is on the go in their own way—dancing, playing with kids, jogging, or walking. They’re all exploring movement and making it their own. I was drawn to On because I’m always on the go, and their shoes offered so much comfort. I’m getting older and need to take care of my knees and back—I can’t wear what I used to.
Let’s talk about the video—it’s amazing. As a longtime Spike Jonze fan, I found it so kinetic, witty, and refreshingly playful.
Law Roach: I’m not an athlete—my workout is shopping and running around Fashion Week, from Milan to Paris. But the way Spike created this world of movement, in a way only he could, was absolutely incredible. That’s another thing I love about it.Working with On was incredible. Even though it’s a big company, the environment feels small and intimate. Everyone knows each other, and there are open lines of communication. We even got to do that with Spike Jonze—an absolute icon. It was a dream come true.
The original idea was rooted in creativity, almost like working in a lab where your creative thoughts can run free. In any creative space, it’s all about trial and error. You might think, “These pants are nice, but what if we exaggerated the shape?” You experiment; some ideas work, others don’t. You’re figuring it out as you go, trying not to be too hard on yourself—my inner critic can be really judgmental. I think Spike’s video explores those internal thoughts during the creative process in a really sweet way. Watching it just makes me happy. It’s charming, sweet, and joyful—something I think we all need a little more of.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Zendaya and Law Roachs new womens collection for On designed to sound like questions from real fans and fashion enthusiasts
General Beginner Questions
1 What is this new collection
Its a collaborative womens apparel and footwear line designed by Zendaya and her longtime stylist Law Roach for the performance sportswear brand On
2 Who are Zendaya and Law Roach
Zendaya is an awardwinning actress singer and producer Law Roach is her iconic stylist and image architect famous for creating her unforgettable redcarpet looks They are a legendary fashion duo
3 Why did they partner with On
They wanted to create a highperformance collection that also embodies their shared vision of style confidence and versatilitymerging fashionforward design with athletic functionality
4 Where can I buy the collection
The collection will be available on Ons official website select On retail stores and possibly through other highend fashion retailers Check Ons social media for launch details
5 Is this just shoes or is it clothing too
Its a full collection It includes footwear as well as a range of apparel items such as tops jackets and pants
Design Style Questions
6 Whats the overall style or vibe of the collection
Expect a blend of athletic precision and elevated streetwearthink sleek minimalist silhouettes innovative materials and a neutral color palette with strategic pops of color all with Zendayas signature chic and powerful aesthetic
7 Did Zendaya and Law Roach design everything themselves
They were intimately involved in the creative direction and design process working directly with Ons team to infuse their personal style and functional needs into every piece
8 Are the pieces only for working out
No A key goal was versatility The pieces are designed to transition seamlessly from a workout to casual daily wear emphasizing style without sacrificing performance
9 What makes this different from other celebrity collaborations
This collaboration is unique because it leverages a proven longterm creative partnership focused on a cohesive womens narrative rather than just putting a famous name on an existing product