Page 68 - Tropic Magazine Issue 11

Lifestyle
Profile

Tri-umphant brand

Tropic profiles a remarkable
story of growth for local
apparel brand FOHER CO.

Make female triathletes feel amazing and
comfortable as they race.
That was the simple philosophy behind
the launch of FOHER CO, a Queensland
triathlon and cycling apparel brand. In Kylie Anderson competing in FOHER kit Custom branded FOHER kit for Megabake
their latest initiative, the team at FOHER
are offering a custom-branded kit service Coast Cycle and the Corporate Triathlon
for local businesses and individuals. On held at the Gold Coast. With the
the eve of Ironman Cairns, where FOHER expansion of our technology and
will unveil some exclusive new products, capability it meant we delivered on these
we explore the evolution of the brand services and had fantastic results. Her
since its launch in 2015. flare for creative design ensured our
corporate businesses really stood out and
Q&A with
Hannah Hogan & Kylie Anderson were the most recognisable on course.
Sadly, most corporate businesses settle
for cheap custom team apparel. Our
How did FOHER start? mission with Custom Team Kit is to offer
FOHER was born from Hannah's original a higher level of customer service and
creation and desire to clothe female quality.
triathletes in performance triathlon suits
that flattered their bodies, made them When you are putting technical
look incredible, feel amazing and that
were comfortable beyond belief. The vast performance apparel into a market
majority of suits on the market a few place where women notice and care
years ago were cookie cutter substitutes about the small things, attention to
from garments originally designed for detail is paramount. Custom branded kit for men
men. The seams were in the wrong places, Kylie Anderson
they cut, they chafed, and they were What are the advantages and
mostly very dull in colour. You're now doing a men's range? disadvantages of being based in Cairns
Right from the inception of FOHER, we given your products have global appeal?
I have wanted to bring colour had guys asking us when we would be The major disadvantages are time and
and an element of fun to our women introducing a men’s range but we always cost. It takes forever to get anything done
who are out there working hard wanted to absolutely perfect our women’s in Australia…island time is truly a thing!
Shipping back and forth and the costs
day-in, day-out, and I do this through range first. It is a very time consuming associated with that is crazy for us. We
and thoughtful process to develop a
the prints and patterns I design. garment from scratch to the moment it recently moved our fulfilment centre
Hannah Hogan goes live on our website. We put our test from Cairns to Brisbane which
suits through the wringer, pick them streamlined things somewhat, but me
Tell us about your new custom team apart and put them back together again. being based in Cairns is still challenging.
clothing offering? You will not find a cookie cutter garment Honestly, there are major disadvantages
Our segue into custom team clothing was on our shelves. We have painstakingly to manufacturing in Australia, which I
a natural evolution. We constantly designed every single one of our really dislike saying. We will keep a core
received requests for custom one-off garments from scratch. Perhaps that is elements range Made in Australia, but to
garments which we absolutely loved why it is so satisfying when we make a ensure we are at the forefront of the
fulfilling. Having a unique tri-suit in sale! technological developments in the
which a woman looks spectacular and We have taken that same approach and performance garment market, we have
feels amazing while she undertakes a applied it to our men’s range. We had a developed partnerships with a couple of
gruelling challenge like an Ironman is superb male athlete wear our Donut incredible family-run businesses
really something. And by clothing these Icecream two piece triathlon suit during overseas. It has enabled us to take our
women, we feel part of their journey. IM Cairns 70.3 last year. He said it was business to the next level.
Having Hannah based in Brisbane meant the most comfortable suit he had ever On the upside, Cairns is full of amazing
that she was being approached for larger worn! We have decided that our initial entrepreneurs who are usually open to
custom jobs for corporate businesses for offerings to the male market will be sitting and having a chat over coffee with
cycling apparel, run singlets and tri-suits through our bespoke custom service and a complete stranger! And I love the
for corporate events like Brisbane to Gold team custom range. lifestyle. Our climate means that we can