Leicester cyclewear firm opens new Leicester factory
A Leicestershire-based premium cyclewear business is preparing to take its operation up a gear by opening a new factory and signing a deal with Japanese distributors.
Vélobici, which designs and manufactures high tech cyclewear and is based in Market Bosworth, has opened a new factory in Leicester that will be used to produce all of the brand’s clothing moving forward.
Rising demand from Japanese buyers has also seen the company sign a deal with Japanese distributors for the first time, in addition to being stocked in 25 other countries, including Taiwan, South Korea, Italy and the United States.
Chris Puttnam, owner of Vélobici, said: “We’re now into our eighth year as a business and it looks set to be our busiest yet. Opening our own factory is something we have been working towards for some time, as we need our own specialist team in order to continue to develop our cycling garments.
“It will give us the freedom to produce new lines quicker using our rigorously tested performance fabrics, tweak designs more easily as they are first being developed and produce very limited runs of products where required.
“With its textiles heritage, Leicester has all of the specialist skills and know-how we need to continue to develop the best fabrics on the market, but its close proximity to our Market Bosworth shop also enables us to oversee new lines as they are being developed. We’ve created five new jobs so far, and plan on creating more as we further grow the business.
“At the same time, the new deal we have agreed with our Japanese distributors is also a big move for us and one that we’re really excited about. The brand has been gaining a real buzz in Japan, so this seemed like a natural next step for us and it is great for a small East Midlands brand like us to be sold in so many countries around the world.”
The brand has also been working in partnership with city-based sock specialists Premgripp® to produce an innovative cycling sock that is designed to stimulate nerve endings in order to improve blood circulation in the feet.
Puttnam added: “This design is a first in the cycling world and we have spent two years developing the patented technology, something we would never have been able to develop without the expertise of this local company. The Vélobici Premgripp socks enhance blood circulation through the integrated gel pads in the sole of the socks, which aids performance and helps to alleviate the problem of numb toes and feet, while also ensuring feet do not slip inside socks and that socks do not slip inside cycling shoes.”
The brand is also working on a new spring collection in partnership with one of cycling’s most iconic names, which will be revealed in the coming months.
