Rapha (sportswear)

Rapha
Traded as Rapha Performance Roadwear
Industry Sporting goods
Founded 2004
Founder Simon Mottram and Luke Scheybeler
Headquarters London, England
Area served
 Worldwide
Products Clothing
Accessories
Skin Care
Cycling Holidays
Website rapha.cc

Rapha Performance Roadwear is a sportswear and lifestyle brand focused on road bicycle racing, clothing and accessories. Rapha headquarters are in London with a United States office in Portland, Oregon.[1]

History

Started in London in early 2004 by Simon Mottram[2] the first products launched in July of that year. The name Rapha was taken from the 1960s cycling team Rapha, which was named after the apéritif drink company Saint Raphaël.[3]

In 2007, Rapha partnered with British designer Paul Smith to create a range of limited-edition cycle clothing and accessories.[4]

Rapha clothing is produced in a number of different locations including the UK, Italy and the Far East. UK production included some early Merino wool pieces and also leather gloves which are made in Somerset, England. Italian production focuses on stretch fabric and stretch garments such as shorts and tights. In China production focuses on the most technical items, such as outerwear.

Sponsorships

Rapha used to co-own the UK-based cycling team Rapha Condor–JLT with London bike brand Condor Cycles and the cyclocross team Rapha Focus; at the end of 2014 Rapha announced they would end their grassroots sponsorship to focus on Team Sky and WIGGINS.[5] In August 2012, it was announced that as of 2013, Rapha will be producing the clothing for the British cycling team, Team Sky.[6] Australian Cyclocross champion for 2013 and 2014, Lisa Jacobs, chooses to wear Rapha clothing. On November 3 2015, Rapha announced that their Team Sky sponsorship will end after the 2016 season.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Company". Rapha. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Penn, Rob. "Pedalling fashion: the rise of cycle style". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "The Original Rapha". The Inner Ring. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Rapha + Paul Smith collection unveiled". Road Cycling UK. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. ↑ http://rapha-focus.cx/sponsors/
  6. ↑ Merrill, Jamie (3 September 2012). "Sky's the limit for cult clothing brand Rapha". The Independent. Retrieved 1 October 2012.


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