THE Brands | Q36.5

 At Solespun we always look to first work with and support those local to us. From our packaging to the products we represent, working with local suppliers allows us a closer relationship with our partners and helps maintain an important personal bond.

 Naturally there are also great talents beyond these shores and none more so than in Italy, many of the finest yarns are produced there and their passion for beauty and excellence is unquestionable. While setting up Solespun we came across an Italian performance cycling company whose ideology and pursuit of excellence truly mirrored our own. Q36.5, launched in summer 2013 by Luigi Bergamo, who has more than 20 years of experience working at the highest level of the sector, to express a very personal vision of the cutting edge of pure performance cycling clothing.

 Q36.5 is less a brand and more a vehicle for continuous unrestrained experimentation and innovation, when we began speaking and the distance fell away as we discussed our shared passion. Q36.5 sent samples for us to test, they were as keen for us to experience their products as we were, needless to say we were impressed, the technical level of their socks is quite stunning and the use of both natural and synthetic fibers expertly blended offer superb results the ‘Be Love Zero’ being a perfect example and one of our absolute favorite socks. 

 The dream of Luigi was to create an iconic product that represents what the future of cycling clothing could be. Q36.5 collaborates with elite Italian textile partners to develop the most efficient cycling fabrics in the world. The use of proprietary high-quality fabrics developed specifically for use in cycling clothing, combined with the radically essentialist cut and styling of the garments, allows Q36.5 to produce some of the lightest cycling clothing in the world. 

 The choice of collaborators is based not only on the ability to produce a high-quality product and benefit from sophisticated manufacturing know-how, but also the possibility to work side-by-side with their suppliers for a faster, clearer and (often weekly) first person dialogue regarding all factors of product development. It is this hybrid exchange, of ideas, samples, visions, questions and improvements, which is, and always has been, the motor of technical and sportswear innovation.