Gymshark Steps Into Footwear With R.A.D. Collaboration

Gymshark, a prominent name in the fitness apparel industry, is making a significant leap into the footwear sector through a strategic collaboration with R.A.D., a performance shoe specialist. This highly anticipated move directly addresses long-standing requests from Gymshark's dedicated customer base, marking a natural evolution for the brand into a more comprehensive offering for gym-goers.

R.A.D., which has cultivated a strong following within both the UK and US fitness communities, has previously engaged in numerous successful collaborations. However, this partnership with Gymshark represents its largest and most high-profile venture to date. The two companies are set to release a limited-edition collection featuring R.A.D.'s two acclaimed shoe models: the R.A.D ONE V2 and the R-1. This exclusive collection will be available for early access on Wednesday, September 10, from 5 pm, followed by a general sale commencing at 7 pm on the same day.

Both companies boast compelling origin stories and rapid growth trajectories. Gymshark, founded in 2012 by Ben Francis, now 33, has emerged as one of the most remarkable success stories in UK retail and sports over recent years. R.A.D., on the other hand, was established more recently in 2022 by Ben Massey, 36. Its inaugural product, the R.A.D ONE, launched in January 2022, famously sold out within minutes. Since then, R.A.D. has solidified its reputation through impactful athlete collaborations, particularly within the CrossFit community.

Ben Francis, Gymshark's founder, articulated the strategic importance of this footwear launch: "Gymshark isn’t a sports brand, or an athleisure brand — it’s a gym brand. A year ago, we launched our ‘We Do Gym’ campaign, putting our stake in the ground and claiming we had everything you would ever need for the gym, but we could never offer the full complete wardrobe - until now." He emphasized the rigorous criteria for their first shoe: "We knew that if we were to bring out a shoe, it needed to not only look great, but also one that was going to perform. One that the community would love and use both in and out of the gym."

Francis further elaborated on the choice of R.A.D. as a partner, expressing deep admiration for their work: “I’ve been a huge fan of what R.A.D has been doing from the outset — as a brand, Ben [Massey] and the team have changed the game in the training footwear space. R.A.D shoes aren’t just built for performance - they also look better than any other performance shoe you’ll find on the gym floor. We wouldn’t collaborate on a shoe with just anyone — these guys are trailblazers in the training space, and I couldn’t think of a better brand to do it with.”

For R.A.D., the collaboration is equally monumental. Ben Massey shared his excitement, stating, “For us, this collab is wild. To have the Gymshark logo sitting on our shoes, a brand that’s become a global symbol of training, is a real pinch-me moment. We’ve always seen ourselves as the underdog, building from the ground up, so teaming up with a giant in the gym space feels like worlds colliding in the best way.”