This week saw two major apparel licensing agreements inked, one involving apparel rights for the phenomenally popular Manchester United soccer (football) team, and the other for rising fitness giant Peloton.
Sportswear company Adidas has confirmed its plans to launch an apparel collection in partnership with Peloton. The Adidas x Peloton SS21 collection will include performance wear and lifestyle pieces made in collaboration with Peloton instructors Ally Love, Robin Arzón and Cody Rigsby. The instructors were involved in the design process to develop a co-creation model. The collection is Peloton’s first instructor-designed global-level collaboration.
The collection will be available on March 25 through Adidas.com/peloton, at select retailers of Adidas clothing, at apparel.onepeloton.com, and in select Peloton stores. The product line will also be combined with a series of on-demand fitness classes that will be available on Peloton Bike, Bike+ and the Peloton App starting March 18. A live class promoting the collection will be held on on March 25, the same day the collection becomes available.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the British soccer team Manchester United has announced it has signed a new five-year agreement with the global technology company TeamViewer as its principal shirt partner, beginning with the 2021/2022 season.
Manchester United is among the world’s most popular and valuable soccer teams, with more than a billion international fans, and a valuation of $3.81 billion in 2019.
“We are tremendously proud to be establishing this partnership with one of the most exciting and dynamic global software companies,” said Richard Arnold, Managing Director, Manchester United. “The ability to connect and collaborate has never been more important to the world and our community of 1.1 billion fans and followers. We are looking forward to working with TeamViewer to bring to life our vision for a partnership built on smarter ways of connecting people and businesses.”