Gymshark x R.A.D® collaboration
Gymshark has made its move into trainers. For a brand that has been redefining the gym space for over a decade, this feels less like a side project and more like an inevitable next step. The collaboration with cult performance footwear brand R.A.D® is a natural fit: one company with global reach and cultural weight, the other with credibility among serious trainers and a reputation for innovation.
From an executive hiring perspective, what stands out is the way Gymshark continues to build a leadership culture that thinks beyond product categories. The decision to move into footwear wasn’t just about plugging a gap — it was about recognising that the gym wardrobe wasn’t complete without trainers and then moving decisively to deliver.
Ben Francis has been clear: Gymshark isn’t a sports brand, and it isn’t an athleisure brand. It is a gym brand. That positioning has created both opportunity and responsibility at the top of the business. It’s required executives who can manage rapid international growth, maintain authenticity, and now, launch an entirely new product line with the right partner rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.
R.A.D® brings the specialist know-how. Gymshark brings the scale and community. Together, they’ve created the ONE V2 trainer: the piece that completes the Gymshark kit and signals where the brand is heading next.
“We make apparel for anyone who wants to hit the gym and better themselves. And our collections are, naturally, extensive. Tees, leggings, stringer vests, sports bras, you name it, Gymshark has everything you would need for the gym. Well, nearly everything. One key piece of the gymwear puzzle was always missing” Ben Francis Speaking to TheIndustry.fashion about the collection
Consumer Additions Perspective
Big decisions are made in the boardroom, but it’s the mid-senior teams that bring them to life. A product like the ONE V2 doesn’t launch without hundreds of smaller decisions being made well — design details, athlete testing, marketing rollout, distribution planning, and digital storytelling.
This is where senior hiring matters. The strength of Gymshark’s teams is visible in the way they deliver campaigns that cut through, build hype that feels authentic, and manage the operational realities behind the scenes. The ‘We Do Gym’ campaign set the tone last year. Now, the trainer launch makes good on the promise.
For R.A.D®, whose following has been built on performance credibility, it’s also a chance for their teams to collaborate at a new scale. Aligning with a brand of Gymshark’s size requires sharp merchandising, community management, and product operations — areas where mid-senior professionals carry the weight.
Why Trainers Matter
Trainers have always been more than functional. They’re a cultural marker. For Gymshark, stepping into footwear is about more than selling a new product line. It’s about completing the wardrobe and deepening the relationship with its community.
The collaboration shows the maturity of the athleisure market. What began as joggers and hoodies crossing into day-to-day wear has now grown into something bigger: performance products that carry status both inside and outside the gym. Trainers sit at the centre of that shift.
By partnering with R.A.D®, Gymshark avoids the trap of trying to enter the market without credibility. Instead, it builds on R.A.D®’s reputation while giving the footwear brand a platform to reach millions. It’s a mutually beneficial move that strengthens both sides.
The Talent Behind It All
This collaboration highlights something we see across the consumer sector time and again: growth is driven by talent at every level. Executive teams set the strategy, but mid-senior professionals bring the execution, creativity, and operational control needed to make launches like this land.
Gymshark and R.A.D® have shown what happens when both ends of the hiring spectrum are working in sync. The result isn’t just a new trainer — it’s a statement about where the gym and athleisure industries are heading next.
👉 The Gymshark x R.A.D® ONE V2 launches soon. A collaboration that underlines how strong leadership, supported by high-performing teams, can reshape categories and set new standards.