OUR BRAND STORY
From product launches and ground-breaking campaigns to key partnerships
and big bets
that propelled the Brand forward, these are the moments that made us who
we are.
1996
PROTOTYPE #0037 - “THE SHORTY”
The shirt that started it all. It was soft. It was skin-tight. It was
stretchy. And, most importantly,
it wicked sweat faster than anything else out there, keeping athletes
cool, dry and light.
1997
HEATGEAR® FOR WHEN IT'S HOT & COLDGEAR® FOR WHEN IT'S COLD
After delivering on the keep-you-cool promise of HeatGear® with the first
T-shirt, Under Armour introduced its now-famous ColdGear® fabric,
which keeps athletes warm, dry, and light in cold conditions, and then
AllSeasonGear®, which keeps athletes comfortable between the extremes.
1998
THE MOVE FROM BALTIMORE
Under Armour moved operations from a rowhouse in the Georgetown
neighborhood of Washington, DC, which belonged to
Kevin’s grandmother, to an all-new headquarters and warehouse in
Baltimore, MD, the city it has called home ever since.
1999
THE BIG BREAK
Under Armour signed on to supply product for the Oliver Stone film Any
Given Sunday starring Al Pacino and Jamie Foxx. In key
scenes of the film, the football team wore Under Armour apparel and
accessories and athletes everywhere took notice.
2000
ESPN THE MAGAZINE
Eager to capitalize off of the heat from Any Given Sunday,
the Under Armour team volunteered to forgo
their paychecks so the Brand could buy its first print
ad, a half-page in ESPN the Magazine. The move paid
off, generating awareness for the Brand and
a $750,000 increase in sales.
2001
MAJOR LEAGUES
Under Armour became the official supplier of the
National Hockey League, and inked licensing
deals with Major League Baseball and USA
Baseball, along with key retail partners.
2002
THE ARMOUR
UNDERNEATH
Under Armour launched its first line of performance
underwear. Made to stretch, recover, stay put, wick
sweat, and breathe, it promised athletes they’d
never want to wear regular underwear again.
Under Armour’s first national television ad, the now-legendary Protect
this House® commercial, featured former University
of Maryland football standout Eric "Big E" Ogbogu. The ad established
Under Armour as the authentic voice for the next
generation, and introduced the concept of “WILL,” a theme that remains
an undeniable part of the Brand’s DNA.
This new pinnacle cushioning system for Under Armour footwear is not only soft enough to absorb impact, but it also returns energy and pushes you back up so it feels like zero gravity. Under Armour, 1. Gravity, 0.
2004
GOING BACK TO OUR ROOTS
Eight years after its launch, Under Armour became the official outfitter
of University of Maryland athletics, where the idea for
the Brand was born.
2005
GOING PUBLIC
On November 18, 2005, Under Armour went public, trading at NASDAQ
under “UARM” and became the first U.S.-based initial public offering
in
five years to double on its first day of trading.
2007
BRAND HOUSE
Under Armour’s first Brand House retail store opened in Annapolis,
Maryland..
2008
THE NEW PROTOTYPE
Under Armour revealed its highly anticipated line of performance
trainers through its first Super Bowl commercial, marking its
foothold in the athletic footwear market.
2009
The Brand made its first strides into the
running category with the launch of its
performance footwear line.
2011
After years of waging war on cotton,
Under Armour further cemented its
reputation for relentless innovation by
developing Charged Cotton®, a fabric that
dries faster than regular cotton, but feels
just as soft and comfortable.
2012
The sports bra, reinvented. Under Armour
talked with everyday athletes and tested
hundreds of prototypes to develop the perfect
performance fit for its
revolutionary Armour Bra™. Designed by
women for women, UA took the innovative
approach of uniquely constructing each
specific cup size to deliver unmatched,
made-for-you comfort and support.
Finally, a bra built to fit athletes perfectly.
2013
As part of the Brand’s relentless pursuit
of innovation, Under Armour introduced its
best insulation system yet with ColdGear®
Infrared. A soft, thermo-conductive lining
absorbs and retains body heat, so
athletes stay warmer longer…with no extra
weight or bulk.
2014
SPEEDFORM APPOLLO
Under Armour is a footwear brand and the introduction of the Speedform
Apollo confirmed it. It was the first running shoe ever
made in an apparel factory and was designed for speed with zero
distractions. As the tagline said, “This is what fast feels like.”
2015
CONNECTED FITNESS
Through the acquisitions of fitness app companies MapMyRun,
Endomondo, and MyFitnessPal, Under Armour built the world’s largest
digital fitness and wellness community. The Brand that changed how
athletes dress now changes how they live.
2016
CONNECTED
FOOTWEAR
Through the acquisitions of fitness app companies MapMyRun,
Endomondo, and MyFitnessPal, Under Armour built the world’s largest
digital fitness and wellness community. The Brand that changed how
athletes dress now changes how they live.