LONDON (BRAIN) — Rapha on Friday introduced the new team kit for the Canyon/SRAM women's WorldTour squad. The company said the high performance kit was designed for aerodynamic performance and said it "has given over a significant section of its R&D to the design of women's high-level racing gear."
Rapha has offered women's clothing in the past, and developed pro-level men's race clothing for the Sky team, but this is its first effort at pro level women's clothing.
The team kit includes deep winter items as well as summer gear for road races and time trials. Rapha side the short sleeve jersey sleeve design and fabric were optimized for aerodynamics in the wind tunnel. The design consists of flashes of color against a black background.
“We wanted to create a design that wasn’t gender specific, just a strong visual that had energy,” said Rapha designer Ultan Coyle. “I’ve long been drawn to the warning tape you see used on building sites and along streets; specifically when there are multiple layers wrapped around scaffolding poles or broken lamp posts to highlight potential dangers. I liked the idea of wrapping the body in the tape to suggest an athletic threat or danger to add attitude, which would come in handy when racing. The tape formed the basis for the print, which we then we re-colored, or electrocuted, to make it more striking.”
Rapha chief marketing officer Sarah Clark said, "We were incredibly excited to design this kit. We wanted it to have the practical features stand out in the peloton to help the ladies find each other at crucial moments. From an aesthetics point of view we wanted something as individual and badass as this fantastic team. We are very proud of the end result and to be supporting these ladies over the coming years."
