Private investors have contributed £3.2 million to Chester, UK-based sportswear brand Castore to support its expansion into Asia and the US.

The firm’s co-founders – brothers and former pro athletes Tom and Phil Beahon – plan to use the funds to set up a dedicated Asia website, and are in the early stages of planning their first store in Hong Kong.

Among the investors are Robert Senior (formerly head of Saatchi & Saatchi), Arnaud Massenet (previously husband of Natalie Massenet, founder of Net-A-Porter), and Tom Singh (founder of New Look).

Castore’s mission is to build “the lightest, most durable, highest-performing sportswear in the market,” achieved through testing products in competitive environments.

“All our garments have been tested on elite athletes to ensure they excel at the highest level, worn for 100 consecutive days before being approved for full production,” the company explains on its website.