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Who owns Bee Inspired Clothing?

Back in summer 2008, Perth-born duo Steven Robb & Mark Corcoran met when they shared a flat in Glasgow. Steven had just moved from Dundee to join Mark’s previous club St Mirren, who had signed for nearby Hamilton Academical. Their friendship blossomed in this time, but it was years later at the tail end of their careers in 2013 when they started talking about post-football careers and had the idea of starting a streetwear clothing brand.

They needed a plan Bee so put £300 each to make some T-Shirts, using Steven’s connections while playing in Thailand to get them made cheaply. They designed four t-shirts using phones and sold them on a Facebook page. Using their footballing connections it sold out in weeks enabling them to reinvest.

They were able to run the clothing brand from the flat they shared while working full-time jobs and still playing professional football part-time. They worked late into the night and dispatched the orders on their lunch breaks. They still own Bee Inspired to this day, which is very refreshing to see.

Mark Corcoran

Corcoran broke through late at 24 and played for Hamilton Academical (twice), St Mirren, Partick Thistle, Ross County, Stenhousemuir and finished his career with Stranraer. The pinnacle of his career was winning the Scottish challenge cup in 2006. The late breakthrough meant he worked a host of other jobs which put him in good stead to be a fashion designer.

Steven Robb

Robb had an injury-ravaged career but it didn’t stop him playing for Dundee, Raith Rovers, Dundee United, St Mirren, Thai Port, Brechin City and Montrose. Playing abroad in Thailand gave Robb the opportunity to create business contacts within the fashion fabric industry.

What was the key to success?

Bee Inspired were one of the early successful bedroom brands, springboarding on from Sik Silk’s breakthrough and utilising their footballing connections to get it into the public eye. Lucky for them, they knew Scottish players like Charlie Mulgrew, Steven Naismith, Robert Snodgrass, and Scott Brown, who put it on their Instagram.

This was used to greater effect later in 2017 when ex-teammate Andy Robertson made a move to Liverpool FC which opened a path to international superstars like Bobby Firmino. But a chance meeting in the player’s lounge at a game led to Philippe Coutinho taking it to Barcelona for Messi and Suarez to wear., which drove international orders.

The first style to take off for them in the early days was the Bee Inspired Razor tracksuit (left), which was in high demand at the time. They saw the market was mostly focused on T-Shirts so took an opportunity to move into designer athleisurewear.

But what really is underappreciated with Bee is they were trailblazers for many reasons. They were one of the first to promote as a lifestyle brand and did an overseas photoshoot to Dubai with former footballer Leon Scott (who went on to co-own Hera). They followed that up in Thailand with Ross Worswick (who founded Couture Club) and Alex Hamilton in Chicago.

Using these models with big followings helped, as they enjoyed it so much they were posting on their own Instagram to kick start the influencer trend. This got the brand a lot of extra wanted attention. They were also the first to sponsor pool parties to great success, and soon everyone was wearing their T-shirts, shorts and swimwear. The move into Jeans and Jackets cemented them as a must-have urban brand.

The celebrity influence and pioneering ideas aside, you cannot discount the effort put in by the pair to grow the fashion label into a household name employing a huge team of people in multiple warehouses. A far cry from their humble beginnings in that Gorbals flat where Steven returned home from Thailand to share a bed with boxes of T-Shirts.

It’s a lot of hard graft to start a clothing brand but the boys were equal to the task. Both the dressing-room banter and jobs they had worked outside of football have kept them grounded. The football taught them they were only ever as good as the next game, and to take nothing for granted.

Why are they called Bee Inspired?

In the early days, they had ideas of getting designers to get involved in exchange for products, with the aim to inspire them. That combined with a chance scrolling through Instagram gave Steven the idea for Bee Inspired Clothing.

What is the Logo?

There are a few over the years including a Bee logo and just the letter B, but they are now commonly associated with the B33. It’s a variation of the word Bee but with the numbers representing backwards E’s. The number 33 has significance for the clothing brand as the ex-footballers had squad numbers of 15 and 18 which total the number 33.

The Subject Zero sustainable collection

The brand has recently moved to create a sustainable collection made with responsibly sourced materials, including recycled packaging and labelling. Working with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) to understand the ethical impacts on the materials used.

Is Bee Inspired a good brand?

Yes, they are dedicated to great customer service so the customer reviews are very positive, bordering on phenomenal. The only bad reviews are for people living in the USA who have had delivery problems, which happens anywhere with strict customs. The sheer volume of reviews praising the product quality makes me want to buy some right now.

While he is following in the footsteps of former footballer Reece Wabara of Maniere De Voir in looking at options outside of sport, Sean doesn’t have the backing of experienced fashion moguls of Gym Shark for guidance. He’s done it all alone and to a very high standard, with noticeable quality in the website and photography for a new startup.

The men’s range for launch consists of performance T-Shirts in 3 colourways (Red, White and Black), and black tracksuit jackets and joggers. It’s understandable he wants to keep the next drop under wraps, but he promises big plans are underfoot.

The women’s range is more standout for me with tops and leggings in 4 stunning colours of mint green, lilac purple, mauve brown and black is more than just eye-catching. We cannot wait to see what comes out next.

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Is Valorous a good brand?

Yes, the brand has some high-quality pieces and gorgeous colourways. I managed to bag myself the peppermint set, so it’s a rare occasion I can first-hand confirm the material and fit is genuinely mint! Made with a Nylon, Polyester and Elastane blend, it gives comfort and stretch.

We are sure initial customer reviews will back this up. It’s also clear from Sean’s vision that the customer focus is there, which speaks volumes about their expected success.

It’s all very impressive work for a new brand, so we are predicting big things and that they will go the distance. As a boxer, Sean is clearly a born winner. We love how he is fighting everyone’s corner for inclusivity too.

Interview with Sean Fennell

So why start a fashion brand?

So the inspiration for starting the brand was born from a mixture of things. First of all, I have been obsessed with sports from a young age. This, combined with my passion for fashion gave me the motivation through the 2020 lockdown when I had a lot of time on my hands to start getting creative and brainstorming some ideas. This is when Valorous was born.

And why call the brand Valorous?

Valorous stands for ‘showing great courage in the face of danger’. To me, the brand is all about motivating others we understand everyone has personal goals and struggles as a brand we’re here to motivate them through both journeys.

Sounds great, what separates you from the other brands out there?

Our aim here at Valorous is to provide high-quality clothing at affordable prices for our customers. We want to help everyone take the next step in fitness and life goals. To push performance inside and outside of the gym.

We strive to be open, inclusive, equal and empowering. We are open to all sizes, religions and cultures. We are all human and equal. We support everyone no matter what, to motivate, inspire and push people to achieve their goals.

We are Valorous

You can find the clothing on their website wearevalorous.com and follow them on Instagram for launch news.

What is Athleisure?

Athleisure is clothing that is designed for exercise but also suitable for everyday wear. It’s more performancewear aimed at Athletes and Gym Goers than your standard tracksuit. The key is in the fabrics, fits and cuts.

The term was first heard in the 1990s, as a combination of athletic and leisure, to bridge the gap between clothing suitable for exercise and also to wear casually. Functional sportswear clothing that looks good, even when layered to a devastating effect.

What is performance wear?

Performance clothing is sportswear garments using high-tech fabrics for moisture management to keep athletes cool and dry.

Usually slim-fitting, these active wear are comfortable and stretchy to reduce resistance when running or exercising. Performance wear has been around for a long time, but branded sportswear was adapted for the youth market and not just for elite athletes.

The difference between athleisure and performance wear is activewear is more designed for elite athlete’s and design is leaning towards the sports aspect. Whereas athleisure is designed with fashionable everyday use in mind.

Valorous is designed with both in mind, with sacrifices on neither.

And the luxe loungewear collection is a cut above your Gym King or 11 Degrees leisurewear you’d also wear doing sports. The style is more like Manière De Voir’s premium tracksuits, but the price points are a lot higher, which is a reflection of the significant increase in material and design quality.

Your standard fast fashion brands will often use a cotton/Polyester mix. The superior quality of the Reiss loungewear comes from Cotton-blend fabrication using Viscose or Elastane. And even the like for like 100% cotton T-shirts are far better quality with the soft-touch the brand provide. The Reiss fashion Leisurewear collection also includes cashmere and wool, so it’s no surprise to see prices are higher with quality to last (as long as you pay close attention to the washing instructions).

Both brands aim for the high end of the athleisure market, crossing over from sports luxe to smart casual. MDV tracksuits retail at approx £85, but that is roughly the cost of the Reiss Joggers alone. Their charcoal pinstripe tracksuit would set you back £260 to buy. But Reiss and high quality go together like Calvin Klein and underwear. If you treat it right and wash with care, you will have a capsule piece to last a lifetime.

Who is Reiss?

Reiss are a niche luxury designer brand created in 1971 by David Reiss now owned by Warburg Pincus, an American global private equity firm. Initially a London suit store for men in Bishopsgate, it was the 1980 shop opening in Kings Road that exploded the shop into the public attention. In the late 90’s they knew they need their own clothing brand and took the design inhouse.

It was in 2000 when they took huge strides in the luxe market by expanding into womenswear which was a brave move with their menswear reputation. After a slow start, Reiss took over their flagship Kent House store in Knightsbridge, and rolled out stroes across the country and in Dublin. They worked hard to grow into a respected high-street fashion chain with 160 stores in 15 countries, including Dubai and New York.

The fashion label is known for its strong focus on fabric quality and design, delivering impeccable service in every area of the business. This has garnered a celebrity following including being a firm favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Stylish Hollywood stars like Tom Hiddlestone and Eddie Redmayne have worn the brand to major events, with Emily Ratajkowski and Kylie Jenner also big fans.

With modern designs in keeping with current trends, perfection comes in the fabric quality of their clothing manufacturing. The Reiss clothing brand sells high-end, contemporary designer clothing, accessories and footwear. The clothing is designed by James Long as a more affordable entry to the designer market, and not considered Fast Fashion.

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Who started the Gym King?

The Gym King was started in April 2014, and incorporated in March 2015. This makes it one of the long-standing athleisure streetwear brands in the UK. Set up by James Parker and Carl Carnett with a straight 50/50 split, the latter left in 2017 giving Jay the full ownership, making him the only Gym King owner until JD sports bought shares in July 2021.

This was rare in streetwear clothing to have it still fully owned by the person who set it up, which makes Gym King’s rise even more impressive considering by their own admission they don’t follow trends and churn out core products. But it’s an urban athleisure business model that has seen success, regardless of who owns Gym King.

Who is Jay Parker?

James Parker was 24 when he set up Gym King, and the former personal trainer saw a gap in the athleisure market for normal colours for those that wanted to look good but not stand out. They were already producing stringer vests with the brand name to a small marketplace, but Jay saw opportunities to develop this further to open up to buy for the mass market.

He personally financed the initial AW14 production run of the game-changing Gym King tracksuits with just 3 colourways and used social media to great effect to bring brand awareness, and used his PT connections to have sponsored athletes who were social influencers and brand ambassadors.

They went mainstream with the help of the usual celebrity endorsements on Geordie Shore and brand ambassadors. This additional exposure saw them quickly take their market share of Gym Wear.

Clothing brand owners can either hide in the shadows or go full-on social media personality presence. Jay Parker has a strong Instagram following which is impressive when you consider his profile beforehand and that he is not Wikipedia famous. His path is more Sik Silk than 11 Degrees.

How did Gym King clothing become so big?

The Gym Kings success is down to the timing of the launch; the athleisure market was ripe for a stylish clothing brand and James Parker was in the perfect position to deliver to his fitness clients. For any fashion label, early sales are crucial to momentum.

Being fully independently owned also created close relationships with those they worked with, with the loyalty mutual. This played its part in the social media takeover supernova making the brand highly sought after and continued relationships even when others tried to take the space. The Gym King stockists put the brand at the forefront which drove good sales, which kept the high presence for that self-fulfilling prophecy.

Gym King made quick inroads to the big urban wear retailers which built the foundations for success, driving 88% of stock sales through the wholesale route. Footasylum came on board early, which gave the athleisure brand an entry point to ASOS and JD Sports. The key was they had a product the fitness fans wanted but only The Gym King were producing, and the big retailers were the platform to deliver.

International breakthrough across Europe and Asia, and working closely with JD Sports, the clothing brand aim to breakthrough in America.

A lot of credit has to be given to the designer team as well, as good marketing only goes far unless the product quality is high and the designs are on point.

Gym King clothing

Gym King provides clothing for men and women, and the gym king tracksuit is probably their most well-known item. Other than their famed gymwear they sell hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers, t-shirts, jackets, shorts, shirts, denim, twin sets, leggings, dresses, and co-ords. They have the performance range for the active and the lounge collection for loungewear.

Is Gym King a good brand?

The Gym King is a great brand and very popular with kids. There are many positive reviews on Trustpilot, which usually means that is the just the one linked to the website firing out automatic emails.

Like all brands, they are mostly good reviews and the occasional complaints about quality and customer service which are part and parcel of the fashion industry in all honesty, people are less inspired to leave a legit positive review.

The fact many big retailers stock the brand shows that they are a strong player in the athleisure and streetwear market.

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Is there a Black Friday Sale?

In 2019 and 2020 the Gym King Black Friday sale saw up to 75% off retail prices, and it will likely be the same in 2021. Those wanting a Tracksuit for the Gymnasium should follow the brand on their social media channel to keep updated on any sales launches.

Man of Many particularly highlights the burgundy tracksuit Kanye wore at the 2015 Grammys. Why not click here for an array of men’s tracksuits to explore what is stylistically possible?

Hailey Bieber

The model known as Hailey Baldwin before her marriage to Justin Beiber was spotted in a midriff-baring ensemble of black sports bra, cap and shorts as she left a hot Pilates class in West Hollywood in August 2019.

“I used to be a dancer, which is all about being warmed up and warm and muscles being loose, so I just really enjoy hot classes like that,” she earlier told Us Weekly in March that year.

 

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New @calvinklein #cK50 campaign shot by #glenlutchford 🙂 in #mycalvins

A post shared by Hailey Baldwin Bieber (@haileybieber) on Oct 8, 2019 at 8:24pm PDT

Jennifer Lopez

The singer has long kept herself in good shape, as fans who recall her skimpily-dressed self in the “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” video will be able to attest. Unsurprisingly, then, she’s a shining example of how to get the athleisure look right, having been seen in an orange sports bra and multicoloured bottoms in August 2018.

Rita Ora

The British singer is another celeb committed to their workouts, as evidenced even just by the toned midsection she showed off in August 2018. That month, she was photographed simultaneously wearing plain black leggings and an Adidas sweatshirt cropped just enough for her to expose her workout waist.

Rihanna

The Barbadian singer doesn’t always need an umbrella, ella, ella, but she’s more than a little partial to the occasional off-kilter yoga pant. As DKODING points out, she has even been seen in boujee yoga pants – and made such an impression that you’d think she was “the only girl in the world” who has ever wore them.

Bella Hadid

The supermodel is pretty experimental with her workout gear, having once sported sweat pants only to switch to hot yoga pants. She is also fond of complementing her activewear with crop and peppy tops.

Perhaps one of the best examples of her athleisure taste, however, came with the monochromatic arrangement she was seen wearing in New York City in July 2017. On that occasion, a sports bra, leggings, a light sweater and a crossover bag comprised her clothing pieces hewing to this look.