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Sombrio Racing
8th December 2005 - James
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Some companies just have 'it', you just want to be a part of it. You like what they're doing, and they're making good stuff. For me Sombrio is one of them, they've got a really great style (just check out their website) and they know what looks good.
2006 is gonna be big for these guys, Paligap are bringing them into the UK so look out for the brand new range.
We managed to hook up with Dave Watson, one of the founding members of Sombrio, and one crazily stylish rider (just check out NWD4, and his drop over the tour de france!) read on..
FTMB: Who started up Sombrio?
The original founders of Sombrio were Andrew Shandro, current Cove Bike shop manager Gabe Fox, and myself. I pitched them on the idea of a Freeride BIKE branded clothing company in the Fall of 1998, and a few prototypes and a year later we launched our first range of products collectively.
Why start a clothing company?
I’d always had the idea of owning my own company when I was kid. You know drawing logo’s and names all over my text books. And, growing up between Whistler and Vancouver, it soon became evident it should be in the action sports industry. I skated, surfed, BMX’d, skied, as a kid, but when I got serious about MTB it was evident that our industry was lacking on any cool apparel. So, by 19 years of age I was travelling the world; making a living racing downhill and made it my off season goal to launch a rider owned, rider designed clothing brand. Even today, few BIKE companies are making fashion forward products, so I had a passion since day one top help make our sport cooler through the riders, by bringing the rider owned concept of small custom run clothing designs to the industry.
Moody Watson
What makes Sombrio kit different to all the other brands out there?
We’ve been designing and producing clothing for 8 years, this February. So combine seasons of experience in high end manufacturing with rider specific tailored products, and on-going rider feedback help us evolve our range further and more specificly each season. We’re also now on par with some of the leading snow sport companies with our outerwear program, as well as the only BIKE specific brand engineering our own materials for our Freeride shorts and jerseys. Also, our graphics are a huge face to our clothing, and there original and different to anything else out there, as well as 80 piece + range of low key yet & technical pieces that will satisfy Joe Blow to the World Cup shredder.
The rider owned companies seem to be doing better than the big guys, is this the future do you think?
I’d like to think so and to see more rider owned companies show each year is awesome. So long as there products are solid, they’ll/ we’ll hopefully be the future of our industry. So, it still holds true, if you don’t like something, do it yourself, and that seems to be the case more and more these days with the riders.
Do the riders have say in what the clothes are like?
Our riders past and present are like family, and they’ve always helped us with the design of our products. This year will be the first year where were going to host a design retreat, or more like a catered party in the mountains. You never get much covered in the office in an afternoon, so were opting for some creative drive and an excuse to get up to the mountains to ride, chill, talk some shop.
Triton jersey
What does Sombrio mean exactly?
The name Sombrio is Spanish for Shady Mountain which to us, represents those gloomy/ misty days riding on the shore. So we thought it was fitting. It’s also a sick pointbreak on the South Island, that we hit when were not riding.
Whats the office like? Messy?
The HQ is pretty dialled, in the last few years it’s moved from the basement of our roadhouse to a macking 2nd storey office with water views – no shit, we scored because our landlord is a rider too, so he hooked us up. So were pretty happy, the last 6 months have seen new work stations all around, as well as some much needed hired help. I can ‘t wait until the day we have our own compound with a jump farm and inside ramp set ups!
Whats coming up for 2006 and further ahead?
Our 2006 range was remodelled from scratch with no carry forward items, so the range is brand new to all.. The biggest additions include 2 new glove models, (Forensic & Cartel), which we spent the better part of 8 months developing and are frickin sick. Our Jacket/ Outerwear program has 3 models and is going to destroy anything in the BIKE market. Our shorts are constructed from an exclusively developed nylon for Sombrio, as well as a huge range of men’s casuals tops and bottoms as well premium grade denim jeans & accessories galore. Chicks will dig too with a complete technical and casual range of women’s products designed by girls for girls. We’re also introducing our first range of the Signature models in 06, with my Pinner short and have prototypes in the works for other team riders for 07.
Style for miles, Crankworx
Can you give us any teasers of future products?
We’ve been developing our ‘Armor’ program for a few months now, and will have riders testing them this Spring/ Summer 06, but don’t expect to launch them until mid 2007. The technology is pretty exclusive, and we want to ensure they’re ready for the market, as it seems no one’s really won the armor battle yet. And, we don’t want to rush any products to market until they’re 100%. Also, expect to see more custom engineered materials through out our entire range, as well as more media relationships developing on the web with video streaming, live updates, and music. Our website, has always looked good, but hasn’t stayed up dated weekly, this will change in the new year as we’ve brought someone in house. We might also be involved in a big contest, if we can get the idea off the ground. There’s more, but I’ll leave it at that for now. Check back for updates, and thanks for the props. - Dave
Hucks 'R' Us
Rehab Hoodie
Go check out the website and big thanks to Dave for working with us! We'll keep you guys up to date...
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