DESIGNER FERGUS NILAND DISCUSSES THE SANTINI X IRONMAN COLLECTION
IRONMAN® triathlons are the ultimate individual sporting challenge. They test your fitness. They test your dedication. And above all, they test your will. The Santini IRONMAN collection, which will be available for sale online and at select global retailers, is designed to support your IRONMAN goals.
THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE BEST
Lead Santini apparel designer Fergus Niland says that he and the entire Santini design team began the development of the Santini x IRONMAN collection focused solely on the athletes. “The initial focus behind building this line centered firmly on performance – creating a range of products that would sit above everything currently on the market. Starting with what we had already accomplished with our REDUX range of bike apparel, we decided to incorporate newly-developed REDUX fabrics that had been pegged for release in our 2021 cycling collection.” Some of these innovative new fabrics are adapted from the material used in high-performance swim apparel. “Working hand in hand with our key fabric manufacturer, and after an extensive period of testing,” Niland says, “we developed a series of materials, unique to Santini that is optimized to the three distinct physical processes associated with triathlon. This means they generate superb compressive benefits, have top-grade moisture-wicking ability, and offer aero-dynamicity and elasticity when needed.”
In the hands of our master pattern-makers, Niland and the Santini design team refined the IRONMAN collection until they were satisfied we had built the world’s fastest tri suits. “We wouldn’t call the final kits complete,” he says, “until we scrutinized any potential hotspots caused by the repetition of motion, specifically around the neck seam, shoulders, arm, and leg grippers, and perfected every detail. Respect to the athlete was paramount.” As well as being motivated to create world-class performance clothing for the IRONMAN athlete, Niland says that the design team also wanted something visually stunning. “The approach with the design was to generate a very modern, clean aesthetic. Graphically, we drew from the primary colors associated with the IRONMAN brand and played with the forms and shapes that constitute the iconic Ironman ‘I-Dot’ logo mark to create the patterns you see in the final collection.” The Santini x IRONMAN is available on our website, and at select global retailers.
