Triathlon
Meet the founder of game-changing sportswear brand, Pressio
Worn by the likes of Jack Nowell and with sustainability credentials to boot, Jamie Hunt's compression-focused brand aims to put pressure on the rest of the industry.
Professional athletes can have a hard time adjusting to life at a normal, civilian pace once they hang up their training shoes for the last time. After years of dedication and hours spent practising and competing at the sharp end of their disciplines, the idea of retiring when most people are reaching the peak of their careers can leave many at a loose end.
Not Jamie Hunt. The triathlete was all set for a desk-based career as an economist after missing out on a spot in New Zealand’s Sydney Olympics team. That was, until a sliding doors moment that would change his life forever.
Now, 20 years on, he’s one of the world’s leading authorities on compression sportswear, and has been integral in the growth of the well-known brands Orca and 2XU.
Jamie Hunt worked for Orca and 2XU before setting up Pressio
© Pressio
Our goal is to be known as the world's first and only true technical apparel brand that is fully sustainable
His latest project, Pressio, looks to shift the dial once again, with lofty aims of changing the sustainability of sportswear for good. No pressure…
How did you start competing in triathlon?
"I grew up in a really lower class part of New Zealand and my mother made me swim and run competitively when I was young so that I stayed out of trouble. When I was 13, triathlon came on the scene in New Zealand, and by the age of 15, I was national schools champion.
I reached third in the world rankings in 1997 and '98 for Olympic distance. Sydney Olympics in 2000 was the pinnacle though
"I turned professional when I was 18 and raced as a duathlete [run and cycle] and a triathlete. I won two world junior duathlon titles, and by the age of 23-24, I switched across to doing triathlon full time."
What were the highs and lows of your career?
"I reached third in the world rankings in 1997 and '98 for Olympic distance. Sydney Olympics in 2000 was the pinnacle though – it was the first Olympic Games to feature the triathlon. Unfortunately for me, there were four New Zealand men in the top 12 in the world at the time and I was the fourth one, so was selected as the first reserve for the Olympics. The following year, I decided to retire."
Were you disillusioned with the sport?
"I felt hard done by but I was 29 years old, my third child was on the way, and I’d always said to my wife that if I wasn't making good money aged 30, I would go and get a real career. My background was economics, and ultimately I wanted to work for a bank or the New Zealand government as an economist.
I don't know if, being an athlete, I would have been able to cope with being at my desk all day
"In 2001 though, I was offered an opportunity to go and work for my best friend who owned the triathlon brand, Orca. I went to work for him in the accounts team but within six weeks, I’d inherited the product management category. I brought out my first collection 12 weeks later, and it sold three times more than the year before, so I quickly found my way into developing products.
"I discovered that I loved making fabrics – the engineering, yarns, understanding how fabrics work with the body – and it became my new passion. I was happy that I found something I ended up really loving. I don't know if, being an athlete, I would have been able to cope with being at my desk all day!"
Your new company, Pressio, claims to be the world’s first sustainable compression sportswear brand. What was your inspiration behind its launch?
"A lot of brands go and buy a swimwear fabric and put it into a tight and call it compression, but there's not really enough power, it's not graduated. There is only a handful that make real sports compression, which helps increase recovery, reduces muscle soreness and micro-tears, and provides a faster warm-up. When I left 2XU, I had 15 years of research around what makes good compression and I’ve made it better at Pressio.
Jamie Hunt launched Pressio's first men's and women's ranges in 2020
© Pressio
"About a year and a half ago, I decided that I didn't want to just build another sportswear company. I wanted to bring out world-leading products and performance on a completely sustainable platform. That made my job so much harder but no one else was doing it. Now, we stand alone in the world of performance sport as a brand that does sustainability through the whole collection with a no holds barred approach and our goal is to be known as the world's first and only true technical apparel brand that is fully sustainable."
What makes Pressio unique?
“When you dye any fabric, not only is it probably the most toxic part of developing any garments, but it goes through 180°F of heat. This can partly destroy an elastane yarn, which is the most important part of compression fabric. Using a technique called Eco Dye, we've completely eliminated the whole dyeing process, which is great for the environment, but also means we don’t lose any power.
The Power range is ideal for high-intensity sports like rugby or CrossFit
© Pressio
“We also really stand out on performance and we’re 20-30% more powerful than our next competitor. It's also extremely comfortable, very breathable, and has amazing moisture management."
To explore the Pressio range for yourself, head to pressio.com