We continue our journey into the world of companies that supply professionals. This time we heard Giordana and specifically Giorgio Andretta, founder and owner of the companyThe Italian brand collaborates with the Team Astana and Team Bike Exchange (opening photo).
Custom sizes
More and more often, companies tell us that professionals are equipped with products that are identical to those found on the market. Let's see if the same approach applies to Giordana.
"Everyone The materials used by professionals are the same as those found in our lines aimed at normal cyclists. "—Giorgio Andretta begins—"What we do is customize the measurements. Let's say that the professionals are so thin that we start by reducing everything one size below normal."
Giordana's goal is to best meet the needs of the riders: «Some guys have some particular measures and in these cases we go to create some tailored garments, but the materials are those you find in the store in our top-of-the-range lines."
In the wind tunnel
Giordana focuses heavily on research and development of new materials, and in this field, professionals play an active role.
«All the garments we produce they are tested in the wind tunnel “Andretta explains, ‘From skinsuits to winter jackets. When developing new products, we always try to meet the riders' requests.’”
An example that the owner of Giordana gave us concerns the membrane which is used for winter jackets, which is very breathable, but not very elastic and it is difficult to create tight-fitting garments: «To overcome this problem, on the less breathable areas we put a type of membrane that is more ergonomic and remains closer to the body, in this way we favor the aerodynamics of the garment».
Pros as testers
Confirming the fundamental role of professionals in the development of new materials, Giorgio Andretta explained to us that: «All the clothing lines are derived from professionalsWe use riders as tests, because they require specific things and they put them through their paces thoroughly. We can say that if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for everyone."
But the testing phase is not limited to professionals only.
«In addition to the riders, we also use some advanced amateurs as testers and a series of ambassadors that we have scattered around the world. This allows us to adapt our garments to even the most demanding physiognomies and needs different from ours».
Research and professionals
We can say that the professionals supplied by Giordana start the season with material that is identical to what is available on the market and throughout the year they test new technical solutions, which, once approved, are incorporated into the following year's collections. It's a virtuous circle that places research and professionals at the center of everything.
Giorgio Andretta told us a couple of anecdotes to help us better understand how product development works.
«Recently I wanted to change the case back to improve it. When I told the teams they all told me not to do it, to leave it as it is because it's fine – and then adds – we don't make many types of chamois, we have two models for men and two for women. The secret of a chamois is simplicity; it must be soft, elastic, and breathable. We encapsulate aloe vera inside the fabric thread that comes into contact with the skin, which is antibacterial, refreshing, and also soothing."
Different materials
And then there are the body for time trials and everyday use.
"The time trial bodysuit has reached a very high level of development, they are tested in the wind tunnel and must be designed to provide the maximum speed for a limited time of use. Different story for the body for normal competitionsWe cannot use the same materials, because the children have to use it for several hours a day. For the legs we use very light materials that also provide a graduated compression which helps recovery – and then Andretta continues – while for the upper part we use some more breathable and softer materials compared to the time trial body precisely to provide more comfort".
