It all started in 1996 when former Maryland football player Kevin Plank
got tired of his heavy, loose-fitting sweat-drenched football gear. It was
then, that he recognized a need for sports-tailored apparel and decided
to start a company that would revolutionize the industry. His goal was to
create comfortable clothes that would keep athletes cool during physical
activities while also optimizing movement and reducing moisture and
tightness.
With $20k of his own personal savings and $40k of credit card debt
Kevin started Under Armour from the basement of his grandmother’s
Washington D.C. home. It was here that Plank would take his first step on
a journey that would one day lead him to head one of the most successful
sports clothing brands in the world.
Under Armour is 23 years old, and although that might seem like a
long time, compared to other brands like Nike, which is closing on 60,
and Adidas that’s going on 70, Under Armour has come a long way for a
relatively new kid on the block. How UA grew so fast can be attributed
to a number of things, those being their knack for identifying trends,
passion for sports apparel, technological innovation, strategic marketing,
promotional savvy and relationship-building skills.Underdog
Rise of the
Over two decades Under
Armour hasn’t been sweating
the small stuff having
experienced enormous
growth and demand for
its revolutionary products
catapulting the brand into
worldwide recognition.