Under Armour

Under Armour was developed by athletes for athletes. We understand their needs, and the demands of competition. What began nearly a decade ago with our superior undershirt for equipment sports has evolved into six diverse gear lines to cover all seasons, climates, and conditions. By employing only the finest microfiber fabrics, Under Armour has engineered the ultimate Moisture Transport System in garments that slide over your body like a second skin to keep you cool, dry, and light throughout the course of a game or workout. As the originator of the industry, Under Armour remains dedicated to new technology and is determined to enhance the performance of every athlete on every level. Lighter. Faster. Longer. Better. The advantage is undeniable. Kevin Plank develops his first microfiber T-shirt to keep athletes dry during workouts and games; he founds Under Armour Athletic Apparel. Twelve college football teams and ten National Football League (NFL) teams begin wearing Under Armour garments. Under Armour strikes a deal with Sports Robe, the wardrobe and uniform provider for the Warner Bros. film Any Given Sunday. The firm inks a deal with Eastbay catalogues and supplies apparel for another football-themed film, The Replacements. Under Armour begins national print advertising and provides apparel for the XFL football league. Supply agreements with Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and the NFL are signed. Under Armour gear becomes available in over 2,500 retail stores; company begins testing a women's apparel line. The Women's Performance Gear product line is officially launched in retail outlets and on the company web site. The products of Under Armour Performance Apparel have become the top choice of athletes around the world to wear under their uniforms or during workouts. It all began with college football player Kevin Plank, who designed a T-shirt to draw sweat away from the body and into a lightweight microfiber fabric. Though moisture-wicking fabric was not a new concept, Plank's lingerie-feeling garments became a sensation when they kept football players at the University of Maryland, Georgia Tech, and Arizona State University dry and comfortable during practices and games. Under Armour has since conquered the sports world. Football, baseball, soccer, and hockey players, as well as NASCAR drivers and Olympians, wear its superior duds. Kevin Plank was born in Kensington, Maryland, in August 1972. He was the youngest of five boys and like his older brothers both loved and excelled in sports. Plank attended St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C., and to further his football dreams went to Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, where he met a number of football phenoms. After Ford Union, Plank went to the University of Maryland and began playing for the school's football team. He worked his way up to special teams captain, where his experiences on the playing field led him to a rather unusual endeavor. Plank had some sample tees made up and tested them on fellow Terrapin players, including pal Kip Fulks, who played lacrosse for Maryland. While it seemed like a big joke to some of the football players, who thought the lingerie-like material was too silky and smooth for macho athletes, they soon changed their tune. The undergarment not only felt good against the skin but kept players comfortable and virtually sweat-free. Plank took suggestions on how to make the tees more comfortable, from sleeve length to collar size, and continually upgraded his prototype. While other seniors were scouting post-graduation jobs, Plank was sure his product had a future. He visited New York City's famed garment district with 500 microfiber tees. Back in his grandmother's Washington, D.C.-area rowhouse, Plank, along with fellow athlete Fulks, drew up some preliminary plans and decided how and where to market the revolutionary T-shirts. Plank graduated from the University of Maryland in May 1996. With cas