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Rapha (sportswear)

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Rapha
Rapha Performance Roadwear
IndustrySporting goods
Founded2004
Founders
Headquarters
London
,
England
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsClothing, accessories, skin care, cafés, Books, Travel and experiences
Websiterapha.cc

Rapha Performance Roadwear is a cycling lifestyle brand focused on road bicycle racing and mountain biking clothing and accessories. Rapha has its headquarters in London and a United States office in Bentonville, Arkansas.[1][2]

History

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The company was started in London in early 2004 by Simon Mottram[3] and Luke Scheybeler.[4] Its first products were launched in July of the same year. The name Rapha was taken from the 1960s cycling team Rapha, itself named after the apéritif drink company Saint-Raphaël [fr].[5]

In 2007, Rapha partnered with British designer Paul Smith to create a range of cycle clothing and accessories.[6] In 2016, it collaborated with bikepacking designer Apidura on a range of cycling luggage.[7]

In August 2017, RZC Investments, a company set up by Steuart Walton, announced that it would buy Rapha for £200m.[8][9]

In February 2020, Rapha announced that it would move its North American headquarters from Portland, Oregon to Bentonville, Arkansas.[2]

In the same year, Rapha collaborated with Palace Skateboards on a cycling kit for professional cycling team EF Education–EasyPost at the 2020 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

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In 2015, Rapha developed an international cycling club called the Rapha 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]

The Rapha Foundation was created in 2019 by Rapha co-founder Simon Mottram and shareholders Tom and Steuart Walton to 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

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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.[clarification needed] At the end of 2014, Rapha announced it would end its sponsorship to focus on Team Sky and Team 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 the UCI Women's WorldTour team Canyon-SRAM.[17] However, in 2022, Canyon-SRAM said it would drop Rapha as its clothing outfitters.[18] EF Education First started wearing Rapha clothing in the 2019 race season,[19] alongside UCI Men's WorldTour team EF Education–EasyPost.[20]

In 2022, Rapha became a supporter of the UCI Women's WorldTour team EF Education–Tibco–SVB.[21][22]

Rapha also sponsors UCI Continental cycling teams L39ION of Los Angeles[23][24] and Roxsolt Liv SRAM,[25][26] and professional cyclists Lael Wilcox, Maghalie Rochette, and Sarah Sturm.[27][28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ MacMichael, Simon (2021-09-22). "Rapha to move to new headquarters in north London". road.cc. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  2. ^ a b "Rapha moves NA office to Arkansas". 2 March 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  3. ^ Penn, Rob (28 January 2010). "Pedalling fashion: the rise of cycle style". Design Week.
  4. ^ Green, Lucie. "New sportswear line". Financial Times.
  5. ^ "The Original Rapha". The Inner Ring. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Rapha + Paul Smith collection unveiled". Road Cycling UK. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Rapha partners Apidura for bar and saddlebag line". Cycling Industry News. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  8. ^ "Walmart heirs' fund wins £200m race for cycling brand Rapha". 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Our Investments – RZC Investments". RZC Investments. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  10. ^ Stanley, Jack (2020-10-05). "An Official Look at Palace's Upcoming Rapha Collaboration". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  11. ^ Broudy, Berne (2021-06-07). "Rapha Launches Mountain Bike Collection, With Commitment to Support Trail Access". GearJunkie. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  12. ^ Faithfull, Mark. "New Rapha Clubhouse London Set to Ride the Cycling Boom". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  13. ^ "Clubhouses". Rapha. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  14. ^ Robinson, Joe (May 29, 2019). "Rapha to give $1.5m to grassroots with new charity foundation". Cyclist. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  15. ^ Merrill, Jamie (3 September 2012). "Sky's the limit for cult clothing brand Rapha". The Independent. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  16. ^ Scott, George (November 3, 2015). "Rapha and Team Sky to end partnership after 2016 season". Road Cycling UK. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  17. ^ "Rapha, Canyon and SRAM sponsor major new women's road team". Bicycle Retailer. November 20, 2015. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  18. ^ Becket, Adam (2022-01-19). "Canyon-SRAM unveil bold new kit as they depart from purple and Rapha". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  19. ^ Ballinger, Alex (2019-01-11). "EF Education First unveil stylish new tie-dye Rapha kit on eve of Tour Down Under". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  20. ^ "Rapha | EF Education–EasyPost". Ef Pro Cycling. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  21. ^ "Team EF Education-TIBCO-SVB unveil their 2022 kit". Voxwomen. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  22. ^ "EF Education–Tibco–SVB". Rapha. January 25, 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  23. ^ Becket, Adam (2022-01-20). "Rapha release L39ION of Los Angeles kit for 2022 season". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  24. ^ "Legion of Los Angeles". Rapha. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  25. ^ Mullens, Peta. "Sponsors". Peta Mullens. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  26. ^ "Roxsolt Liv SRAM". Rapha. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  27. ^ Hansen-Gillis, Lily (2021-01-29). "Rapha expands women's roster as part of commitment to promote women's cycling". Canadian Cycling Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  28. ^ "Rapha furthers support of women's cycling with new signings". endurance.biz. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
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