Few pieces of clothing have undergone a transformation quite like the mesh short—and that’s largely thanks to Eric Emanuel. Once relegated to high school gym class and AAU basketball, mesh shorts were never considered “cool” until Emanuel reimagined them with premium materials, tailored fits, and unexpected color palettes. His mesh shorts are now as likely to be seen courtside at NBA games as they are on runways and in fashion editorials. Emanuel tapped into the emotional connection people have with sports, particularly the youth culture around it, and gave it a new, grown-up context. In doing so, he didn't just elevate the item—he created a whole new category in menswear.