What happens when high fashion meets mountain bike apparel? Thanks to Ashley Rankin and her new women's only Shredly mountain bike line we get to find out. "Why can't mountain biking apparel be as sexy as ladies who ride," says Rankin. A Colorado native, she grew up mountain biking and ditched dolls for sports that incorporated a bit of flair and fashion. Rankin noticed mountain biking was lacking this element and realized her dream of designing beautiful yet functional bike wear.
Her apparel design and marketing background led her to spend time in Florence, Italy where she almost got lost until she was drawn back to the Colorado mountains. After searching for two years for attractive bike wear, Rankin found only what she refers to as the three B's, black, baggy and boring.
Rankin searched for the perfect fabrics and patterns sourcing some of her former tastes in Italy and incorporated it all into Shredly. Each piece has what she calls the "trifecta" incorporating performance, style and comfort. With female specific designs like low profile but comfortable chamois (no riding in a diaper), a low rise, non-suffocating waistband and contrast stiching to accentuate curves in all the right places, women can breathe easy while riding in a fashionable yet functional shorts and tops.
"The designs came to life, the concept has been so incredibly supported and soon the trails will be alive with color! Who knows, maybe the excitement of the new threads will even convince more women to give mountain biking a try...and then they will be hooked!" says Rankin. Shredly is taking pre-orders now for a limited time through entreprenurial site kickstarter.com. Product will be available April 2012, just in time for bike season. For more information click here.
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