Gym wear brand receives six-figure funding package for expansion plans

A gym wear brand from Worcestershire has received a £650,000 investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), supported by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme.

Silverback Gym Wear specialises in men and womens gym clothing for strongmen, strongwoman, and strength sports.

The firms latest product line, Fortis, is aimed at expanding into new markets such as professional rugby and MMA, and has been developed in collaboration with Britain’s Strongest Man, Adam Bishop.

With 30,000 returning customers and plans to grow in the lucrative US market, Silverback Gym Wear will use the MEIF funding to create 12 new jobs, relocate to larger premises, and enhance its sales and marketing efforts, alongside developing new products.

Richard Gardener, founder of Silverback Gymwear, said: “The next stage in the development of our range is an incredibly exciting one as we branch out into more sports and interests at all levels of competition. We’ll be releasing new products that are industry-leading, accredited and used in top competitions, all utilising designs that are much more user friendly than current alternatives. The new staff hires that we’ll be able to bring on board thanks to this funding will continue this work and help us
to expand further and faster as we disrupt the strength-based sports sector, bringing more options to
the sector.”

Ryan Cartwright, investment manager at The FSE Group, said: “Founders Richard and Pete are fantastically passionate about their brand. They are brimming with ideas and sector knowledge and in addition their enthusiasm for the sector as a whole is evident. The company’s new products and expansion plans are very encouraging and it has been wonderful working with the whole team to help them secure this funding. We look forward to seeing how the business progresses and spotting their
clothing at more and more competitions and matches.”