BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Vulpine founder Nick Hussey has today confirmed to BikeBiz that clothing collaboration HOY Vulpine will go live early in 2015 with a London Bike Show launch.
Offering both performance and casual cycling gear for men and women (in equal measure), the competitively priced gear will be stocked exclusively online with Evans Cycles and via vulpine.cc. The line will also grow to include kids garments from 2016.
“I got a call from Chris’ management in November 2013, when we were 20 months old,” said Vulpine founder and MD Nick Hussey. “I was pretty blown away and complimented to even be asked. I never expected we’d be able to clinch a deal with Sir Chris Hoy of all icons, but we worked very hard at it and it happened! Its life changing stuff for me and my wife Emmalou, who’ve risked so much to get Vulpine off the ground, and its a game changer for Vulpine.
“Chris loves our inclusive ethos, something we all hold dear, and he loves our kit. You’ll notice he’s barely out of one of our Harrington Jackets and a merino t-shirt! I said from the beginning I wanted to create a new brand and an innovative but classic new range, not just plonk a famous person’s logo on some stuff. This attitude to business, and our ethos of inclusivity and quality nailed it.”
As a guide to price, the bib shorts will cost £79.99 and features a high specification, including a long distance CyTech pad found on bib shorts twice the price.
The commuter ranges will also feature classic styling, with tried and tested features taken from Vulpine’s current range, but at a more accessible price point.
Sir Chris said “The whole idea behind HOY Vulpine is to create products that can be used for all kinds of cycling. From a more casual perspective, we want to allow riders to feel like they could ride to their destination and still look good, and not necessarily have to turn up at the pub wearing full team kit looking like they’ve just finished a stage of the Tour. The kit is also very functional, this is essential. We’re also developing a performance line which is very understated, stylish, not in your face, designed without compromise.
“I love the design process, with both the bikes and the clothing. It’s made me fall back in love with cycling all over again. For a while, the bike and the kit became a tool to do my job on the track, just a series of components. Now I have that more emotional bond again, and working with Vulpine who share the same passion and attention to detail, constantly reassessing and evaluating, makes me hugely excited about the year ahead and seeing the range that we’ve been working so hard on finally go into stores." added Hoy.
Hussey concldes: “As an ex-road and XC racer of a few decades (gulp!) myself, I believe there are some rules of racing gear you just don’t mess with. Chris has a bit of a background in racing too, apparently, and he agrees. The performance apparel will be simple, classic and won’t feature loads of mad colours, designs or garish logos that we feel spoil cycling apparel. This is a brand that will appeal to the hardcore racing cyclist, the sportive enthusiast, the fitness rider finding their feet and the commuter of any creed. The fact is we want it to appeal to all cyclists, because we love all cycling.”
The 2015 London Bike Show, opening on 12th February, will be attended by Sir Chris Hoy on Saturday 14th February.
Follow @HOYVulpine, @Vulpinecc and @chrishoy for further updates.
