Meet ISADORE - Objective: Make the pleasure last
Brothers Martin and Peter Velits launched Isadore in 2013 while both were pursuing careers as professional cyclists. Since 2016, the Slovakian brothers have been fully dedicated to creating sustainable clothing, produced in Europe under conditions that meet the highest standards of worker rights.
Their goal is also to offer their customers clothing that will survive the test of passing fads and remain functional for several seasons.
We are therefore delighted to showcase their products and take this opportunity to ask their co-founder, Martin Velits, to complete our Cartel questionnaire so that he can share his vision with us.
How would you describe the business philosophy that drives you at Isadore?
We create high-quality cycling apparel with simple designs and timeless style, all while upholding very high ethical standards in production.
How did Isadore begin?
My brother Peter and I were still professional cyclists when we launched our clothing label (me at Quick-Step and Peter at BMC). Since retiring, we have devoted all our time to developing the company, which now employs almost 30 people, most of whom are cyclists with a wide variety of backgrounds.
Since you and your brother were professionals, how did that influence your mindset and approach to designing cycling apparel?
With 20 years of combined experience in professional cycling, we had a good idea of what makes a quality garment. Our quest has therefore always been to use this wealth of knowledge to create the best cycling kit imaginable. Our careers have also taught us to roll up our sleeves when things don't go our way, and to divide tasks as a team to achieve the desired result. Peter is therefore more involved in operations, while I take care of the product side.
What is your signature product that expresses your values and vision?
I can't choose just one, because we now produce clothing for all kinds of cyclists. We've made a name for ourselves by creating beautiful, lifestyle-oriented pieces, mainly using Merino wool fabrics. These are designs that we've significantly improved over time, especially this year. But we also have several products for cyclists like me who love performance-oriented clothing, such as our Alternative and Echelon lines.
How do you see the future of cycling, and how would you like to be part of it?
Cycling has become a very different activity from when we started. It is part of an active lifestyle, attracting a myriad of customers, including more and more young people, who are diversifying their practice, especially with the emergence of gravel biking. That's why we founded the Last Dance gravel team: to help promote this new way of thinking about cycling.
What is your motto?
Never give up
What are you currently obsessed with?
Hockey. I play in a garage league.
By the way, where does the name Isadore come from?
My brother and I listened to Incubus a lot when we started the company. We liked the song with that title, we liked the sound of the word, and the domain name was available on the Internet. It was as simple as that!
And why do you want to entrust your products to Vélo Cartel?
Because Vélo Cartel managed to become one of the most influential cycling retailers in North America. They only select the best products, which motivates us to go above and beyond to meet their standards.