Rhone to Be Official On-course Apparel Partner to LPGA and Epson Tours

Jean E. Palmieri
·3 min read

Rhone is serious about getting its brand embraced by women.

The 10-year-old company founded by brothers Nate and Ben Checketts as a men’s activewear brand will launch womenswear in May. And in anticipation of that expansion, Rhone has signed a deal to become the exclusive official on-course apparel partner of the LPGA Tour and Epson Tour as well as the official staff uniform provider for both.

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“LPGA and its players are an inspiration, and it is an honor to have Rhone aligned with the organization as we enter a new chapter of our brand with our women’s offering,” said Nate Checketts, chief executive officer.

As part of the deal, Rhone will provide uniforms for LPGA Tour and Epson Tour staff beginning this spring.

“The LPGA and Rhone are united by a common passion and a shared commitment to innovation and excellence,” says Emma Crepeau, chief growth officer for Rhone. “Together, we combine our missions to inspire performance, empower individuals to reach their full potential, and to instill life skills within communities. Fueled by our collective support in the pursuit of progress, we look forward to working together to assist talent in developing and achieving success.”

In addition to dressing the players and staff, the partnership will include fan expo displays at four LPGA Tour events; involvement with the LPGA USGA Girls Golf program which works to empower young girls through the sport of golf, and direct support of LPGA’s athlete development program. In addition, after the Rhone women’s line launches, the company will also work to identify professional female golfers to serve as brand ambassadors.

“Rhone’s commitment to versatile and quality performance products aligns seamlessly with the needs of our staff, who work tirelessly every day to ensure the world’s best golfers can reach their peak performance,” said LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “But this partnership is about so much more than just uniforms — it’s helping enhance athlete performance and empowerment across the women’s game. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead because Rhone shares our values and, together, we’re deeply committed to elevating, inspiring and advancing girls and women on and off the golf course.”

Rhone, which was founded in 2014, received an investment in 2017 from L Catterton, a partnership between Catterton Partners, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Groupe Arnault. But last summer, L Catterton cashed out and the brand closed a series D round of financing through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) fund, with management and a select group of investors — including former NFL players Tim Tebow and Steve Young — buying back L Catterton’s minority stake. Half of the funds came from seven owners of professional sports teams in the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS and EPL, the company said. In addition to Tebow and Young, other investors included Blackstone executive David Blitzer, former hedge fund manager Gabe Plotkin and Larry Miller Group. Prior investors have included Justin Tuck and Troy Aikman.

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