Activewear brand Under Armour is collaborating with Virgin Galactic to create a new generation of space apparel and footwear, as well as an astronaut performance training programme.
Under Armour says it will serve as the technical spacewear partner of Virgin Galactic, part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. One aspect of the partnership is to design custom space suits and footwear for Virgin Galactic passengers and pilots, consisting of a complex blend of safety, utility, comfort and style.
To help astronauts prepare for the physical and profound experience of space travel, Under Armour is leveraging its athletic performance team to design programmes for astronaut physical preparation and recovery with a focus on enhancing mobility, strength, fitness, nutrition and sleep.
Under Armour is also providing uniforms for Virgin Galactic’s team at Spaceport America in New Mexico, including engineers, astronaut trainers, hosts and mission control operatives, designed to meet the unique needs of each task.
“Our partnership is built on the firm foundations of shared values, and it will be an absolute privilege to wear an Under Armour astronaut space suit on Virgin Galactic’s inaugural commercial space flight,” says Richard Branson.
He adds: “I have followed Under Armour’s progress through a personal friendship with its CEO, Kevin Plank, and via the great relationships it has established over the years with various Virgin companies. I’ve loved its determination to push technical boundaries in order to improve performance, so could not have been more pleased when Kevin and his talented teams stepped up to the considerable task of creating a range of space apparel and performance programmes for Virgin Galactic.”
The collaboration brings together two global brands with the vision for a better future. Under Armour’s mission is to make athletes better; while Virgin Galactic is making commercial space travel a reality. With a shared belief in the power of human imagination and the possibilities of human innovation, the partners say they are setting out to make the world better.
