Bijou is a retail company featuring luxury tennis racquets with a tagline “Shine on the court” with Swarovski crystals. The company was founded by Agnese Rozite, a former 3x All-American college tennis player who has a work experience from a prestigious country club to a reputable tennis academy to a top Italian fashion house. She attended an Art School in Europe which offered an in-depth teaching in art and craft subjects. It is where she first developed appreciation for craftsmanship. Because of her entrepreneurial family background, Ms. Rozite always knew she will have her own unique brand and business.
Bijou was born and launched in January 2017 in New York City. They recently launched “The Goddess Collection: Rose, Gold and Silver Goddess. Below is the transcript of the interview between The Tennis Foodie and Bijou’s own CEO – Agnese Rozite:
TF: When did you start your brand?
AR: The idea was born in 2015 and it took over a year to do research and development as we had to test multiple variations in order to make the perfect model. Bijou was launched in January 2017 and it’s been a great journey already. We definitely see a trend of other racquet manufacturers designing limited edition models so we are glad we are staying ahead of the curve.
TF: Where did you get the inspiration behind your brand?
AR: I have been playing tennis over 20 years, so it has always been close to my heart. Another passion of mine was fashion and luxury goods. I came to realize that in tennis no matter how many zero’s are at the end of your paycheck everybody pretty much plays with the same racquet. So then I saw a niche of high-end tennis racquets! I was certainly inspired by the New York City lights – it’s truly a city that never sleeps!
TF: What sets it apart from other racket brands?
AR: Well, for starters its beautiful design! You cannot mistake a Bijou racquet for another. But more importantly, not only is the Goddess collection an aesthetic masterpiece: it is a technical triumph, too. The frame is composed of the same fine carbon fibers as used in luxury cars. Without exception, each racquet undergoes 18 quality control steps, which is an industry high. Notably, each racquet is individually hand painted by a master artisan and comes strung with the world’s best natural gut strings.
TF: Do you sponsor any tennis players right now?
AR: That’s a great question as we have had multiple inquiries about sponsorship recently. Even from the men! Our clientele is a beginner to an intermediate level players who play socially and at high-end country clubs. Although we might design a ”tournament” racquet in the future that is not our direction as of now. Therefore, we do not provide sponsorships at this time.
TF: What are the future plans of your company? Do you have any plans to expand in Asia or Europe?
AR: In the near future we plan to add another line in terms of more affordable luxury. It will not have the Swarovski crystals, however, it will be no less stunning. Currently, we are working with various brand ambassadors over the world, so we certainly plan to expand internationally.
Check out Bijou’s official website: www.bijoutennis.com as well as their official instagram page: @bijoutennis.
Beautiful racquets! The gold is my fave! I’m curious to see how the ‘tournament’ or pro-level racquet will look like.
I’m excited to see it too. I think it’ll be sporty yet glamorous at the same time. It will make you shine in the court!
Great interview. I love the decor of these tennis racquets!
Now these are beautiful tennis racquets! I used to play (POORLY) on occasion with friends many years ago, but these make me want to start up again and play more often!
I really like the mint is racket! it just fills me with hope! you will be amazing on the court.
Wow, this is gorgeous racquets. I don’t play tennis, but I’d try if I could have one of those pretty racquets.
These are beyond beautiful. All of them equally as stunning as the next. A little no a lot out of my price range but I have to show this to my daughter who plays highschool tennis.
Such great interview… My dad would love it the most.. I have some friends who are into tennis i would love to share it with them 😀
What fabulous tennis racquets! They’re super stylish. Thank you so much for putting these products on my radar – just in time for holiday shopping!
What an amazing interview with Agnese Rozite! I had no idea she started Bijou!
The Bijou Luxury Tennis rackets are nothing short of STUNNING!! The Swarovski crystals are gorgeous on the pretty pastels!
Such an interesting interview, I always love to know more about who’s behind a brand! These racquets are absolutely gorgeous, I play tennis sometimes and I would really want to own one!
I love tennis! These are some beautiful racquets!
These rackets would be an amazing Christmas gift for a good friend of mine. She has a passion for playing tennis.
Those are some fine rackets! I really wish I could play tennis.
I love these racquets! The colors are so gorgeous.
Wow these bijou rackets are gorgeous! Perfect as gifts for lady player 🙂
Congrats for the interview.
Cool Rackets, but I used to play with cosco Rackets , nd yeah good interview.
My husband loves and was an avid player of the game of tennis.Therefore I only think of rockets in terms of the game. It is a stretch for me to think of luxury goods associated with tennis.
Wow! You have had great opportunities to interview awesome people. Great job chronicling them!
When I think of tennis, I think of Queens, New York City and Jim Cornette hitting people with his racket!
I love the name of the company! And the colors are so pretty. It’s fun to look stylish when playing tennis. Ha! 🙂
I haven’t played tennis in so long. I’m pretty sure though that these racquets are a hit with tennis players. I love how glamorous it looks, the colors are really lovely.
Oh my! These are lovely, especially the rose gold racket. The racket is the last place I would find Swarovski crystal, but hey, why not? I wonder when they will start adding them to golf clubs? I bet my daughter would love to have gem-encrusted clubs! 😀
Wow! You have met so many awesome people! I love the rackets! They are beautiful.
I have an insane desire to start playing tennis now just to have the excuse to buy these rackets!!!
They are lovely and now, thank to your interview, I know also how complicated and hard is to create such a company and make the brand grow.
This takes me back to the time when I played tennis on the high school tennis team. It’s changed so much in some ways and yet stayed the same in others. This looks like a quality racket.
I’ll take a rose gold tennis racket please!
Oh wow I love those rackets!! I’m such a fan of rose gold, I don’t play tennis but I still want one!
These are all so pretty! Would make a perfect gift for anyone who loves tennis. That’s such a great interview, great to know about the brand.
Wow they are truly are fashion statements. If I’d have one, I’d be worried to use it, as it’s so beautiful. Fortunately I’m super clumsy for tennis so I enjoy only to look at it.
These tennis rackets are adorable! My older sister is an avid tennis player, she’d definitely be into these! Wonderful interview by the way!