Next gen beachwear embraces Merino wool
Harnessing the unmatched performance of Merino wooI, iconic Italian swimwear brand arena launched in May its inaugural collection of wool-rich beachwear for men and women, in partnership with The Woolmark Company. One of the collection’s two ambassadors, Nicolò Martinenghi, won the gold medal in the 100m butterfly at the Paris Olympics in July.
With a presence in more than 100 countries across the world, arena is a huge international swimwear company with growing sales. The company was created in 1973 by sports visionary Horst Dassler (son of the adidas founder Adi Dassler and nephew of Puma founder Rudolf Dassler), and has been famous throughout its history for its performance swimwear and sponsoring elite athletes from Mark Spitz to Shane Gould.
This year, arena has added to its core swimwear offering the company’s first lifestyle collection, the Spring/Summer 2024 Beachwear Collection, which includes Merino wool swimwear for men and, for the first time, women. The two products for men and three products for women feature sophisticated and contemporary styles combined with elegant colour choices. All the products all designed in Italy.
The products, named by arena as Tech Wool, have been developed using innovative Woolmark-certified wool blend fabrics made with Australian Merino wool yarns (30-54%) and cutting-edge technological fibres. The ultralight and compact fabric guarantees the highest level of performance in terms of breathability, comfort, resistance to saltwater and chlorine, and UV protection.
Embraced by Olympic swimmers Zsuzsanna Jakabos (above) and Nicolò Martinenghi (see box below), the new Tech Wool collection from Italian swimwear brand arena offers beach lovers both the performance benefits and also the style of Australian Merino wool.
Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist backs wool
Olympic gold medallist Nicolò Martinenghi advertising the Merino wool swim shorts.
Olympic swimmers Nicolò Martinenghi from Italy and Zsuzsanna Jakabos from Hungary are featured wearing the new Wool Tech beachwear in arena’s advertising.
Reflecting arena’s skill at picking the most talented athletes with which to partner, Nicolò Martinenghi went on to win the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“When arena informed me that there were wool swimsuits in the new Beachwear Premium Spring-Summer 2024 collection, I didn't know what to expect. I immediately thought of sweaters or winter clothes, not summer,” Nicolò said. “Then, when I tried it on, I was impressed by the comfort and elasticity of the fabric that fits perfectly to the body.”
“As an athlete, I know that innovation has always distinguished the arena brand, and with this line in Merino wool, it proves it once again.”
- Nicolò Martinenghi, Paris 2024 Olympic Champion
Collaboration with Woolmark builds success
The new Tech Wool collection is a result of arena having been introduced by The Woolmark Company to the versatility and benefits of Merino wool.
“For us, the adoption of innovative, sustainable, and surprising fabrics, such as a wool base, represents a winning path. In The Woolmark Company, we have found an excellent partner, with whom we can walk that path together.”
- Giuseppe Musciacchio, arena Deputy CEO
AWI’s Regional Manager for Central & Eastern Europe, Francesco Magri, says Merino wool is the ideal choice for arena’s future direction, aligning with the growing demand for wearable performance with the environment in mind.
“The collaboration with arena once again underlines the versatility of wool, even in unexpected contexts such as beachwear. And it’s precisely the intrinsic characteristics of this extraordinary fabric, along with it being a natural fibre, that makes it a key ingredient that can offer technical performance as well as representing a responsible choice for the planet,” he said.
“To have arena ambassador Nicolò Martinenghi win at the Olympics shows calibre of sportspeople associated with the brand.”
“With its exceptional natural properties, Merino wool now sits high on the radar of the sports and performance world, and is increasingly prevalent in the new market of aquatic activities.”
- Francesco Magri, AWI Regional Manager, Central & Eastern Europe
Offering natural breathability, fast-drying capabilities, elasticity and UV protection, Merino wool is both an innovative performance fibre and a 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable choice for sportswear that does not contribute to microplastic pollution of the sea.
More information: www.arenasport.com/en_row/beachwear
This article appeared in the September 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
