Rapha (sportswear)
 | |
| Rapha Performance Roadwear | |
| Industry | Sporting goods |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters | , England |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Clothing,accessories,skin care,cafés,Books,Travel and experiences |
| Website | rapha |
Rapha Performance Roadwearis acyclinglifestyle brandfocused onroad bicycle racingandmountain bikingclothing and accessories. Rapha has its headquarters in London and a United States office inBentonville, Arkansas.[1][2]
History
[edit]The company was started in London in early 2004 bySimon Mottram[3]andLuke Scheybeler.[4]Its first products were launched in July of the same year. The name Rapha was taken from the 1960s cycling teamRapha,itself named after theapéritifdrink companySaint-Raphaël.[5]
In 2007, Rapha partnered with British designerPaul Smithto create a range of cycle clothing and accessories.[6]In 2016, it collaborated withbikepackingdesigner Apidura on a range of cycling luggage.[7]
In August 2017, RZC Investments, a company set up bySteuart Walton,announced that it would buy Rapha for £200m.[8][9]
In February 2020, Rapha announced that it would move its North American headquarters fromPortland, OregontoBentonville, Arkansas.[2]
In the same year, Rapha collaborated withPalace Skateboardson a cycling kit for professional cycling teamEF Education–EasyPostat the2020 Giro d'Italia.[10]
In 2021, Rapha entered the mountain bike market, launching its first range of mountain biking clothing in collaboration with Smith on a line of helmets.[11]
Organizations and venues
[edit]In 2015, Rapha developed an international cycling club called theRapha Cycling Club(RCC), whose members get benefits with the company. Today, it has over 20,000 members.[12]
Rapha has about 21 international stores throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. They are called "clubhouses."[13]Each has a retail space, which sells Rapha-branded clothing and accessories, and a café area. The Rapha Cycling Club hosts community rides and events at the store's locations. The stores host a number of cycling-related events and art exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, Rapha operates mobile "clubhouses" through Europe and the UK; venues that will travel to certain events throughout the cycling season.[citation needed]
TheRapha Foundationwas created in 2019 by Rapha co-founder Simon Mottram and shareholders Tom andSteuart Waltonto fund various non-profit cycling organizations, and to introduce cycling to a wider audience. It provides $1.5 million a year in funding, and supports non-profits in the UK, United States, Germany, Australia and Japan.[14]
Sponsorships
[edit]Rapha used to co-own the UK-based cycling teamRapha Condor–JLTwith London bike brandCondor Cyclesand thecyclocrossteam Rapha Focus.[clarification needed]At the end of 2014, Rapha announced it would end its sponsorship to focus onTeam SkyandTeam Wiggins Le Col.[citation needed]
In August 2012, Rapha announced that from 2013 it would be producing the clothing for the British cycling team,Team Sky.[15]On 3 November 2015 it announced that its Team Sky sponsorship would end after the 2016 season.[16]
In 2015, Rapha announced it would begin supplying clothing to theUCI Women's WorldTourteamCanyon-SRAM.[17]However, in 2022, Canyon-SRAM said it would drop Rapha as its clothing outfitters.[18]EF Education Firststarted wearing Rapha clothing in the 2019 race season,[19]alongside UCI Men's WorldTour teamEF Education–EasyPost.[20]
In 2022, Rapha became a supporter of the UCI Women's WorldTour teamEF Education–Tibco–SVB.[21][22]
Rapha also sponsorsUCI Continentalcycling teamsL39ION of Los Angeles[23][24]andRoxsolt Liv SRAM,[25][26]and professional cyclistsLael Wilcox,Maghalie Rochette,and Sarah Sturm.[27][28]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^MacMichael, Simon (2021-09-22)."Rapha to move to new headquarters in north London".road.cc.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^ab"Rapha moves NA office to Arkansas".2 March 2020.Retrieved11 February2020.
- ^Penn, Rob (28 January 2010)."Pedalling fashion: the rise of cycle style".Design Week.
- ^Green, Lucie."New sportswear line".Financial Times.
- ^"The Original Rapha".The Inner Ring.16 May 2012.Retrieved21 May2013.
- ^"Rapha + Paul Smith collection unveiled".Road Cycling UK.28 July 2010.Retrieved1 October2012.
- ^"Rapha partners Apidura for bar and saddlebag line".Cycling Industry News.2016-06-15.Retrieved2018-09-13.
- ^"Walmart heirs' fund wins £200m race for cycling brand Rapha".7 August 2017.Retrieved7 August2017.
- ^"Our Investments – RZC Investments".RZC Investments.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Stanley, Jack (2020-10-05)."An Official Look at Palace's Upcoming Rapha Collaboration".Hypebeast.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Broudy, Berne (2021-06-07)."Rapha Launches Mountain Bike Collection, With Commitment to Support Trail Access".GearJunkie.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Faithfull, Mark."New Rapha Clubhouse London Set to Ride the Cycling Boom".Forbes.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"Clubhouses".Rapha.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Robinson, Joe (May 29, 2019)."Rapha to give $1.5m to grassroots with new charity foundation".Cyclist.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Merrill, Jamie (3 September 2012)."Sky's the limit for cult clothing brand Rapha".The Independent.Retrieved1 October2012.
- ^Scott, George (November 3, 2015)."Rapha and Team Sky to end partnership after 2016 season".Road Cycling UK.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"Rapha, Canyon and SRAM sponsor major new women's road team".Bicycle Retailer.November 20, 2015.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Becket, Adam (2022-01-19)."Canyon-SRAM unveil bold new kit as they depart from purple and Rapha".Cycling Weekly.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Ballinger, Alex (2019-01-11)."EF Education First unveil stylish new tie-dye Rapha kit on eve of Tour Down Under".Cycling Weekly.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"Rapha | EF Education–EasyPost".Ef Pro Cycling.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"Team EF Education-TIBCO-SVB unveil their 2022 kit".Voxwomen.2022-01-25.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"EF Education–Tibco–SVB".Rapha.January 25, 2022.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Becket, Adam (2022-01-20)."Rapha release L39ION of Los Angeles kit for 2022 season".Cycling Weekly.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"Legion of Los Angeles".Rapha.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Mullens, Peta."Sponsors".Peta Mullens.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"Roxsolt Liv SRAM".Rapha.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Hansen-Gillis, Lily (2021-01-29)."Rapha expands women's roster as part of commitment to promote women's cycling".Canadian Cycling Magazine.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^"Rapha furthers support of women's cycling with new signings".endurance.biz.2021-01-29.Retrieved2022-06-21.
