Under Armour evolved from the idea of crafting a superior sporting T-shirt: one that provided compression and sweat wicking properties during exercise and a shirt that worked in harmony with the body to regulate temperature and enhance performance.
Founded in 1996 by former University of Maryland football player Kevin Plank, Under Armour’s goal has been to keep athletes cool, dry and light throughout the course of a game, training or workout. Its performance technology includes HeatGear® when it's hot, ColdGear® when it's cold, AllSeasonGear® for moderate climates & weather conditions, and the 0039 Compression T-shirt that boosts muscle performance and wicks moisture away from the body.
In 2003, Under Armour launched performance gear for women and since 2006, it has offered footwear as well. One of its latest additions includes the Infrared Line, designed as a follow-up to the ColdGear® Line. Infrared is crafted with a thermo-conductive coating in order to absorb and re-circulate the wearer’s body heat.
Initially working from his grandmother's basement in Washington, Plank traveled up and down the East Coast of the USA selling his revolutionary product out of the boot of his car. By the end of 1996, Plank had made his first team sale, and Under Armour had generated $17,000 in sales. The demand and need for greater & faster production soon outgrew his grandmother’s basement and his car, so the company moved its headquarters and warehouse to Baltimore, Maryland.
Under Armour’s mission is to make all athletes perform better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation.