Gym+Coffee in the U.S.A
This week, while our pop-up store in Dundrum continues, part of the Gym+Coffee team have headed to California for the Active Collective Trade Show in Los Angeles.
This is our first time appearing in a trade show and it is certainly a major one to start off with. Athleisure is now a standalone category in the clothing industry. People continue to seek out high quality gear that is comfortable, fashionable and functional. Active Collective was one of the first trade shows that highlighted the athleisure category and it's now one of the biggest. Active Collective features over 250 brands across yoga fashion apparel, active performance and active apparel. A core theme of the show is quality over quantity. The team behind the show curates the exhibitors and the attendees to showcase the very best as well as up and coming brands in this space.
It's a big honour for us to be included on the day.
Representing The New Ireland
Gym+Coffee was created to represent the new Ireland that has evolved and emerged in recent years.
Ireland is a place of proud heritage, artistic DNA and a friendly, fun-loving reputation. The new generation has all the same qualities but we also believe a significant cultural shift has taken place. The new generation is less concerned solely with nightlife and more interested in a balance which includes enjoying healthy activities and creating lasting memories.
Our goal is to create a brand that represents this new Ireland and to encourage a community to adopt and enjoy this active lifestyle. The type of community who #stretchyourself and #makelifericher. As part of achieving this goal, we need to showcase that new Ireland to the rest of the world. That was the reason behind our Launch in NYC at the beginning of this year. Now, it's the reason we are travelling across the Atlantic to one of the biggest athleisure trade shows in the world. Gym+Coffee is the first Irish brand ever to exhibit at this trade show and we take immense pride in that.
Laying Business Foundations
While our deep passion lies in building a meaningful community, connecting people and events, developing relationships and initiatives, we know alongside that we must also lay strong business foundations for Gym+Coffee. International markets are key to the business having a strong and secure future. We must always be looking for ways to expand and to bring more people into the community. We have massive dreams for where we can go but we are also under no illusions as to where we are at. Gym+Coffee is a startup company, just 18 months old and we are not naive enough to think the US market is there for the taking or merely waiting for us to show up. However, we passionately believe that we have an incredible product range and a unique, modern, Irish voice that the world will connect with.
As has at times happened since launching, we may be a little out of our depth but once again we stick to our two core thoughts: Stretch Yourself and Make Life Richer.
Being at the Active Collective Trade Show is another big, scary move in a year that is continuing to throw us in strange and wonderful situations.
Long may it last!
Make sure to follow along on our Instagram Stories this week to learn a little more about what we’re up to in LA.
