Oiselle, a women's running apparel company based in Seattle, announce their partnership with Kara Goucher, one of the most decorated female runners of all time. Goucher, who had been with Nike, joins Oiselle as a sponsored athlete, valued teammate, and business partner.
ADVERTISEMENT Many offers were on the table for Goucher, and for her, the decision came down to ideology. Oiselle embodies the strong and motivated woman runner, and represents a growing community of athletes and fans who see the opportunity for positive change in the sport of track & field. For the first time, an apparel (non-shoe) company has signed two of the most well known women runners, leading with the signing of Lauren Fleshman in 2013.
Oiselle first hit the market in 2007 and has experienced 100% growth year after year since its inception. The company has established a strong customer base and market presence, largely through its social media channels and athlete community that spans from the newbie runner to professional athlete sponsorships. Oiselle's mission is to design with the whole woman athlete in mind. Its customer community not only appreciates the style driven, functional apparel that was seen in NYC Fashion Week, but also the stance the company takes in support of professional runners and against current regulations that limit athlete opportunity.
Goucher has a successful and ongoing running career alongside being a dedicated wife and mother. Goucher made her marathon debut in New York City in 2008 and placed third. In 2011, she was fifth at Boston with a PR in 2:24:52. She competed in both the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 London Olympics where she placed 11th in the Olympic Marathon. In January of this year, Goucher moved back home to Boulder, Colorado to ramp up her training with college coach, Mark Wetmore and C.U. assistant coach Heather Burroughs. After months of solid training in her system, she will kick off her track season this spring.
In addition to pursuing her dream of qualifying for her 3rd Olympic team in the marathon in 2016, Goucher wants to further her connection with runners everywhere. Her website, karagoucher.com is a new and growing platform for Goucher, where her readers and fans can share experiences and inspirations.
Goucher's goals outside of her own running are a perfect match with Oiselle's goals: to create a network of women supporting women. Goucher is honored to embody a brand that is "feminine fierce" - the combination of beauty and grit amongst a growing sisterhood. Running is at the heart of friendships, passions, dreams and goals for people worldwide, and together, Oiselle and Goucher will look for new ways to further the sport as a whole.
"I am so grateful to be joining Oiselle," said Goucher. "The last few months have been an incredible journey for me. I was able to truly ask myself what I believe and search to partner with a company who shares those beliefs. I feel so incredibly lucky to have found a company who is empowering women to be stronger. Oiselle supports women runners from beginners to Olympians, and celebrates the journey we all take together. Meeting Sally was extremely inspiring to me. She made me want to be a better version of myself and align with people who share the same vision. I honestly feel like I have found a home in Oiselle, and look forward to helping other women find their wings."
"What I love about Kara is that she dreams big and goes for it," says Sally Bergesen, Founder and CEO of Oiselle. "Oiselle has also been about believing in what might otherwise seem impossible. As we grow Oiselle into a community, and a force at the highest level in our sport, having Kara join the strength of our existing team, makes the future feel wide open. I can't wait to see where we fly next."
Oiselle is a running apparel company dedicated exclusively to the needs of women runners. Based in Seattle, Washington and founded in 2007, Oiselle embodies the notion that running is more than a physical activity, but also a philosophy that helps women increase their courage, confidence and health. A French word for bird, Oiselle (pronounced wa-zell) alludes to that feeling of freedom and flight that most runners know; when the legs go fast and the heart goes free.
Kara Goucher is a professional runner, inspirational mentor, proud mother and loving wife. She graduated from the University of Colorado with three Division I NCAA championships in cross-country, the 3000m and 5000m. She is a two-time Olympian, an American record holder, World Championships bronze medalist, and one of the most accomplished female distance runners of all time. In addition to her professional resume, Kara is an inspiration to people everywhere. In December of 2013, Kara launched her interactive website, karagoucher.com in which she can interact with her readers. She has created a social community where fans are encouraged to ask questions and reach out to Kara on a personal level.
