Fumarel (Spanish pronunciation: [fumaˈɾel]), is a Spanish clothing company, specialising in technical sportswear. It takes its name from the black tern (chlidonias niger), a small seabird known in Spanish as fumarel.
 | |
| Company type | Sociedad limitada |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Glorieta de Quevedo 8, , Spain |
| Products | Clothing, accessories |
| Website | www.fumarel.com |
It was founded in 1987 by two cousins from distinguished families, with the aim of providing high-performance equipment for the outdoors while maintaining classic and timeless designs.[1] As a brand dedicated to clothing for luxurious sports (i.e. skiing, hunting, polo, or sailing), Fumarel became strongly associated with the upper classes,[2] and was commonly worn by the Spanish royal family.[3][4] Bruno Gómez-Acebo, Infanta Pilar's second son, was one of its boardmembers.[5][6]
In 2008, the firm filed for bankruptcy following a debt moratorium as a result of the worldwide financial crash.[7][8] Since 2017, Fumarel has been relaunched by the co-founder's son, Pedro Domecq.[9]
History edit
Fumarel was founded in 1987 by two maternal first cousins, Cosme Domecq, son of the 3rd Marquess of Casa Domecq, and Gabriel Narváez, grandchild of the 3rd Marquess of Oquendo and a descendant of Ramón María Narváez, 1st Duke of Valencia. The latter would die in a car crash in Portugal in 1995, at the age of 29.[10]
Since there weren't many brands specilising in a broad spectrum of luxurious sports, both aristocrats decided to produce high-end sporting equipment covering areas such as polo, horse-riding, golf, winter sports, hunting, sailing, and padel.
The brand became notorious after it supplied the clothing for the 1989 expedition to the Himalayas sponsored by Motorola and Banco Central Hispano. The firm grew in popularity and by 1999 it was the official purveyor of the national teams of padel, sailing, golf, and winter sports of Spain.[11] The following year, it became the official sponsor of the Spanish Olympic Team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.[12][13]
By the start of the 21st century, the brand had 20 stores of its own in Spain, and expanded its presence to the United States in 2003, after it was popularised in the universities of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and South California.[14] There were 3 official stores in Madrid, namely at the shopping malls of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, La Moraleja, and Arturo Soria.
The brand is nowadays primarily sold online or through stands at sporting events, following the closure of its last boutique in 2011.
Products edit
Apparel edit
Fumarel sells a range of clothing items, varying from men's and women's shirts, polos, jackets and accessories i.e. headgear or towels. The first Fumarel item of apparel was a polo shirt, designed in 1987.
In 2003, it cobranded the production of merchandising and apparel of the universities of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and South California.
Sportswear edit
Polo edit
One of the main focuses of Fumarel has always been polo kits, and the associated equipment, having sponsored many polo clubs and competitions. The National team of Spain wore Fumarel until the mid 2000's.
Horse-riding edit
Fumarel was the official sponsor of the 2002 World Equestrian Games and produced equestrian garments but ceased to manufacture horse-riding equipment after insolvency.
Golf edit
Fumarel mainly produced gloves, tops and caps, although at one point it manufactured golf shoes as well.
Winter sports edit
The company was a pioneer in the Gore-Tex industry, and still produces coats and parkas. Fumarel developed its products mainly for skiing and snowboarding purposes, although it also catered mushing. In 2004, it sponsored the "Pirena" race, which consists in crossing the Pyrenees with a sled pulled by dogs.
Sailing edit
Another of the strong areas of specialty was sailing equipment. It has sponsored the 2003 Women's Match Racing World Championship Invitational at Newport Yacht Club. The Banco Espírito Santo regatta team won a series of championships in 2002 equipped with Fumarel. These were the National Championship of Spain, the Tournament of H.M. The Queen and the Breitling Regatta.[15][16][17]
Padel edit
Fumarel still continues to produce padel equipment, including racquets. It sponsored Spain's national team and association.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Modaes: Las marcas de España en conflicto por los Juegos Olímpicos - P. Riaño, 7 May 2012
- ^ Félix Ródriguez González, El Lenguaje de los Jóvenes, Ariel (2002), p. 211
- ^ José María Zavala, Pasiones Regias: De los Saboya a los Borbones, las intrigas mas desconocidas y escandalosas de la Historia, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial España (23 nov., 2017)
- ^ José García Abad, La Soledad del Rey: ¿Está la Monarquía consolidada 25 años después de la Constitución?, La Esfera de los Libros (Jan., 2004), p. 218
- ^ El Salto Diario: CRM destinó 1,5 millones de euros a una empresa cuando un primo de Esperanza Aguirre entró en su accionariado - T. García, 17 January 2019
- ^ El Cierre Digital: Vida y milagros de los herederos de la Infanta Pilar de Borbón: Los peculiares negocios de los Gómez-Acebo - J. Galiacho & D. González, 11 January 2020
- ^ El Confidencial: Rato ofrece a Claudio Aguirre el consejo de Bankia para ganar notoriedad - 5 July 2011
- ^ Foro de Marcas Renombradas Españolas, Atlas of the Leading Brands of Spain: Analysis of Spain's International Presence, p. 48
- ^ Diario de Sevilla: "No pensamos en moda, sino en combinar rendimiento y polivalencia" - Pilar Larrondo, 14 November 2018
- ^ ABC Madrid 20-05-1995 página 96
- ^ Tiempo de Hoy: 892-895, Ediciones Tiempo S.A. - 1999
- ^ Vanity Fair: LOS CONTROVERTIDOS UNIFORMES DE NUESTROS OLÍMPICOS - 7 May 2012
- ^ ABC: El chándal olímpico español y el uniforme inaugural: de Barcelona 92 a Londres 2012 - Ana Guerra, 26 July 2012
- ^ Expansión: Fumarel, la marca de los amantes del deporte al aire libre, abre tienda online - Sandra Fernández, 12 April 2019
- ^ El País: El 'Espirito Santo' bate en Valencia el récord de triunfos consecutivos al ganar el trofeo SM La Reina - 8 July 2002
- ^ La Vanguardia: El Bribón se impone en la novena edición de la Regata Breitling-Illes Balears en Puerto Portals - 20 July 2003
- ^ ABC: El «Lanjarón» ya lo hizo en el 92 - 7 July 2002
