XBlades
{{Short description|Australian sportswear company}}
{{distinguish|X-Blades}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = XBlades
| logo = XBLADESLOGO.png
| logo_size = 200
| type = Private company
| fate =
| foundation = {{start date and age|1989}}
| founder = David Miers
| area_served = Australia
United Kingdom
United States
| industry = Textile, footwear
| products = Teamwear, protective gear, football boots, clothing
| key_people = Leighton Richards (CEO)
| location_city = Melbourne
| location_country = Australia
| locations =
| owner =
| parent =
| brands =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{url|https://xblades.com.au/|xblades.com.au}}
}}
XBlades is an Australian sports equipment manufacturing company that designs, develops, and sells products primarily related to footwear and clothing. The company was established in 1989 to make shoes for athletes who played rugby union and Australian rules football.{{Cite web|url=https://xblades.com.au/pages/frontpage|title=THE XBLADES STORY|website=XBlades|access-date=2020-03-30}}
The company is the original creator of the bladed sole football boot, designed to minimize athlete injury.{{Cite web|url=https://internetretailing.com.au/aussie-brand-revamps-logo-record-year/|title=Aussie brand revamps logo after record year|date=2017-12-06|website=Internet Retailing|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-30}}
History
XBlades was established by David Miers, a biomechanist listed with AFL club Collingwood in the 1980s.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-06 |title=XBlades: The Future of the Footy Boot |url=https://mattersjournal.com/stories/xblades |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Matters Journal |language=en-AU}} He suffered many knee injuries throughout his career, which he attributed to his studded boots, leading him to create a rubber-soled shoe with X-shaped 'blades' as an alternative.{{cite news |last1=Waterworth |first1=Ben |title=AFL draft 2017: Gryan Miers looms as one of AFL's next big cult heroes |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2017-gryan-miers-looms-as-one-of-afls-next-big-cult-heroes/news-story/90193e75d605471baad3dfaebb2499b5 |access-date=6 August 2019 |work=Fox Sports Australia |publisher=News Corp Australia |date=22 November 2017}}
Gloucester Rugby signed the company as its new kit supplier in April 2015 for their 2015-2016 season.{{Cite web |title=Gloucester Rugby chooses XBlades to supply kit {{!}} Sports Management |url=https://www.sportsmanagement.co.uk/Sports-news/products/Gloucester-Rugby-chooses-XBlades-to-supply-kit/315006 |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=www.sportsmanagement.co.uk}} In January 2016, XBlades was acquired by former Callaway Golf director Leighton Richards and former AFL player Jimmy Bartel.{{Cite web|url=https://internetretailing.com.au/aussie-brand-revamps-logo-record-year/|title=Aussie brand revamps logo after record year|date=2017-12-06|website=Internet Retailing|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-30}}
XBlades and Major League Rugby (MLR) announced a multi-year partnership in December 2017.{{Cite web |title=Major League Rugby Announces XBlades as Official Apparel Partner |url=https://seawolves.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-announces-xblades-as-official-apparel-partner/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Seattle Seawolves Rugby |language=en-US}}
The company signed a four-year deal with the London Irish starting in the 2017-2018 season.{{Cite web |date=2017-07-05 |title=London Irish agree long-term partnership with XBlades Sports {{!}} 5th July 2017 {{!}} News |url=https://www.london-irish.com/news/london-irish-agree-longterm-partnership-with-xblades-sports/bp1406/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=London Irish |language=en}}
See also
{{Portal|Companies|Fashion|Australia}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
{{Sports equipment brands}}
{{Running shoe brands}}
Category:Australian companies established in 1989
Category:Clothing brands of Australia