Rhone Apparel

Rhone is an American athleisure and activewear brand established in 2014 by brothers Nate and Ben Checketts together with Casey Edgar, Kyle McClure, and Carras Holmstead. The brand takes its name from the Rhône River and the Rhône region of France, a naming choice intended to evoke the area's historical associations and visual character. Rhone began as a web-only retailer focused primarily on men's performance apparel, positioning itself between technical sportswear and everyday clothing suitable for work, travel, and other non-athletic settings. The company's early distribution strategy combined direct-to-consumer commerce with selective retail partnerships. In November 2014, it entered a partnership with Bloomingdale's, initially extending its presence to five locations. By 2015, Rhone products were carried in 127 locations, including Nordstrom, Equinox, and CorePower Yoga. This expansion gave the young brand access to department-store, fitness, and wellness customers while retaining its digitally led origins. The company reported that a substantial share of its 2014 revenue was generated during the period discussed in a November 2015 report, although the available reference does not establish a current revenue figure. Rhone raised a $5 million Series A financing round in September 2015 from individual investors associated with sports, media, and fashion. The company stated that total funding since inception had reached $6.2 million. In February 2016, it acquired a building in Stamford, Connecticut, for use as its headquarters. These steps marked a transition from a small online startup toward a more established apparel operation with physical infrastructure and broader retail distribution. Rhone's product approach emphasizes performance fabrics and construction details intended to improve comfort during exercise and daily wear. Materials identified with its offering include organic cotton, recycled polyester, merino wool, and modal. Products may incorporate antimicrobial and breathable fabrics, while flatlock stitching is used to reduce chafing by keeping seams relatively smooth against the skin. The assortment has included activewear and athleisure garments designed for training, commuting, travel, and other forms of active daily life. The brand initially concentrated on men's apparel. It had offered temporary women's collections in earlier periods, but in April 2024 it introduced a permanent women's activewear line, broadening its addressable customer base. Rhone has also used short inspirational statements on some products, including messages about resilience and perseverance. In 2026, according to the supplied reference material, the company launched ReRhone, an e-commerce site for company-vetted customer returns. That initiative extends the brand's digital retail activity into resale or recirculation of returned merchandise. Publicly available information in the supplied materials is limited regarding Rhone's current ownership, executive roster, international footprint, and financial performance.

Rhone was founded in 2014 by brothers Nate and Ben Checketts, Casey Edgar, Kyle McClure, and Carras Holmstead. Its name refers to the Rhône River and the Rhône region of France. The founders initially built the company as a web-only retailer, with a product focus on men's activewear and athleisure apparel. The brand pursued selective physical distribution soon after launch. In November 2014, Rhone partnered with Bloomingdale's and expanded into five of that retailer's locations. During 2015, its wholesale and specialty distribution broadened considerably: products were reported in 127 locations, including Nordstrom, Equinox, and CorePower Yoga. These placements connected Rhone with department-store shoppers as well as customers of fitness clubs and yoga studios. A November 2015 account also stated that 62 percent of the company's total annual revenue for 2014 had been generated in the period under discussion; the supplied material does not provide a comparable later revenue series. Rhone announced a $5 million Series A financing round in September 2015. Investors were described as individuals from the sports, media, and fashion industries. The company reported cumulative funding of $6.2 million since its founding. In February 2016, it acquired a building in Stamford, Connecticut, for use as its headquarters, giving the growing business a dedicated operational base. Product development has centered on garments intended to function in both athletic and everyday contexts. The materials associated with Rhone include organic cotton, recycled polyester, merino wool, and modal. The brand has highlighted properties such as breathability and antimicrobial treatment, while flatlock seams are used to limit chafing. Some products carry short motivational messages, reflecting a brand language built around endurance and resilience. Rhone originally concentrated on men's apparel. It had previously released women's collections on a temporary basis, but in April 2024 it established a permanent women's activewear line. This represented a meaningful assortment expansion rather than a simple seasonal capsule. In 2026, the company reportedly introduced ReRhone, an online channel for customer returns that Rhone had vetted. The service added a returns-reuse element to the company's direct-commerce model. The supplied sources do not establish a detailed current corporate structure, a complete leadership roster, international operations, or the brand's present financial condition.

1. 2026ReRhone launches

   The company launches an e-commerce channel for company-vetted customer returns.

   Source
2. 2024Permanent women's line launches

   Rhone introduces a permanent women's activewear line after earlier temporary women's collections.

   Source
3. 2016Stamford headquarters acquired

   The company acquires a Stamford, Connecticut, building for use as its headquarters.

   Source
4. 2015Retail network reaches 127 locations

   The brand's products are reported in 127 locations, including Nordstrom, Equinox, and CorePower Yoga.

   Source
5. 2015Series A financing closes

   Rhone announces a $5 million Series A financing round and reports $6.2 million in cumulative funding.

   Source
6. 2014Rhone is founded

   Nate and Ben Checketts, Casey Edgar, Kyle McClure, and Carras Holmstead establish the activewear brand.

   Source
7. 2014Bloomingdale's partnership expands distribution

   Rhone moves beyond its web-only beginnings through a Bloomingdale's partnership covering five locations.

   Source

Performance-oriented athleisure combining technical construction and material innovation with versatile styling for exercise and everyday use.

• Men's activewearActivewear2014

  Rhone's original core assortment consists of men's performance and athleisure apparel designed to transition between workouts and everyday activities. Product construction emphasizes comfort, moisture and odor management, breathability, and reduced friction. Materials associated with the brand include organic cotton, recycled polyester, merino wool, and modal.

• Women's activewearActivewear2024

  Rhone introduced a permanent women's activewear line in April 2024, following earlier temporary women's collections. The line extends the brand's performance-oriented apparel proposition to women and broadens its assortment beyond its historically male-focused customer base.

• ReRhoneE-commerce and returned merchandise2026

  ReRhone is an e-commerce site reported to have launched in 2026 for customer returns that have been inspected or vetted by Rhone. It represents a channel for recirculating returned products rather than a conventional new-product collection.

• 2026ReRhone returned-goods channelStrategy

  Rhone sought an online method for handling and recirculating customer returns.

  What changed. The company launched ReRhone to sell customer returns that it had vetted.

  Aftermath. The initiative added a dedicated returned-merchandise channel to Rhone's e-commerce activity.

  Source
• 2024Permanent women's activewear lineProduct launch

  The brand had historically focused on men's apparel and had only offered women's collections on a temporary basis.

  What changed. Rhone launched a permanent women's activewear line.

  Aftermath. The move expanded Rhone's permanent assortment and customer scope, although the supplied material does not provide sales results.

  Source
• 2015Series A financingOther

  Rhone sought capital to support growth in its activewear business and distribution network.

  What changed. The company closed a $5 million Series A round backed by individual investors from sports, media, and fashion.

  Aftermath. Rhone reported total funding of $6.2 million since inception.

  Series A financing. $5 million (September 2015)

  Source
• 2014Move from web-only retail into selective wholesaleStrategy

  Rhone began as a web-only retailer and sought broader customer access through established retail and fitness channels.

  What changed. The company partnered with Bloomingdale's and subsequently expanded distribution to other retailers and fitness-oriented locations.

  Aftermath. By 2015, the brand was reported in 127 locations, including Nordstrom, Equinox, and CorePower Yoga.

  Source

• 2026Rhone launches ReRhone returns marketplace

  Rhone launched ReRhone, an e-commerce site offering customer returns that had been inspected by the company.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2024Rhone introduces a permanent women's activewear line

  After previously offering temporary women's collections, Rhone began selling a permanent women's activewear line.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2016Rhone acquires Stamford headquarters building

  The company acquired a building in Stamford, Connecticut, to serve as its headquarters.

  Other
  Source
• 2015Rhone expands retail distribution

  Rhone products were reported as being stocked in 127 locations, including Nordstrom, Equinox, and CorePower Yoga.

  Other
  Source
• 2015Rhone closes Series A financing

  The company announced a $5 million Series A round backed by individual investors from sports, media, and fashion.

  Other
  Source
• 2014Rhone partners with Bloomingdale's

  The web-first activewear brand expanded into five Bloomingdale's locations.

  M&A
  Source

1. Rhone Apparel