One way to make a statement in the August heat at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the U.S. Open is to accessorize with fuzzy shearling.

Most attendees of the event opt for breezy blouses and linen separates, with the competitors wearing standard athletic apparel. Venus Williams, 45, who boasts seven Grand Slam titles, made a far bolder statement when she walked onto the court to face Karolína Muchová on Monday. It wasn’t with her outfit — a white short-sleeve polo and matching pleated skirt — but with her racket bag, which was covered in an almost yellow, fuzzy shearling, instead of the standard polyester or nylon.

While Ms. Williams’s match with Ms. Muchová ended in defeat, the eye-catching bag brought a great deal of attention to ERL, the Los Angeles-based label that designed the shearling bag and ensemble.

“She is someone who has kind of, you know, seen everything before, she’s probably worn everything,” Ronald Burton III, the stylist responsible for Ms. Williams’s looks during the U.S. Open, said in an interview. “It was nice to see her excited by this new up-and-coming gen.”

ERL was created by Eli Russell Linnetz, who launched the brand in 2020 as a men’s wear label aimed at capturing the relaxed spirit of California. ERL soon expanded into women’s wear and accessories and then launched a “Made in California” collection last year with garments made from shearling waste and wool from farmers around the state as well as from the flock in his studio.

Representatives for ERL did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ms. Williams, who spent 16 months away from the sport for health reasons, wanted to make a “splashy” return to professional tennis, Mr. Burton said.