, and what growth will look like moving forward. Inside Retail: Tell me about the inspiration and vision behind SA1NT Layers, as well as your plans and goals for the new brand? Aidan Clarke: SA1NT already existed as a disruptive motorcycle and workwear brand where we had carved out a reputation of tough product ranges that appealed to tough lifestyles. We sought to armour the risk takers. Part of the SA1NT brand DNA has always been the connection to unbreakable fabrics, which transitioned into a celebration of the human spirit. Our desire to return to the sportswear industry made sense under these brand values, and we are already finding that it resonates across multiple sporting codes, athletes, and organisations. We want to equip customers with functional and high-performing garments, and SA1NT Layers is another way we can armour risk takers.  IR: SA1NT Layers’ capsule collection is focused on compression and enhancing recovery. Can you discuss why you’ve decided to invest in, and focus on, this particular category? Are compression products something you use in your daily life? AC: Everyone can benefit at some point from medical grade compression. Whether you are travelling by aircraft, and want to stop the blood pooling and swelling that can occur in limb extremities, or you’ve pushed yourself hard on a ski day and need to recover overnight. Unfortunately, many garments claim compression but don’t have anywhere near the power and support to actually elevate blood return. Not all sports compression is created equal, but at SA1NT Layers we want to take the guesswork away, with industry leading technology and fabric.  I personally wear compression arm guards on long rides on the motorbike to stop forearm pump. I use tights after a run to help recover faster, and I never travel without compression socks. IR: Can you share your business journey from Sa1nt Moto in 2015, including the evolution that occurred from motorcycle wear?  AC: Over the last eight years of SA1NT Moto we have created an industry-first, single-layer and CE-rated denim, and have since gone on to enhance strength and flexibility while lowering the price point. We have evolved our moto jeans and fabrics no less than six times, and this obsession to set the standard and keep raising the bar is now driving us to stand out in sports apparel.  IR: Educating customers about compression and recovery is a key goal for SA1NT Layers. Can you discuss the brand’s approach to consumer education? AC: We know that there’s still work to be done to educate consumers on how someone can benefit from our SA1NT Layers compression. Rather than focus on sharing only our knowledge, we have partnered with multiple subject matter experts. Whether it’s people like Professor Shona Halson (formerly head of recovery at the Australian Institute of Sport) that we consult and partner with, or a running coach and champion athlete like Mike Trees, we use a wide range of expert knowledge and experience to help educate – this through the brand’s blogs, social media and our corporate communications.  IR: Tell me about the manufacturing and production process, as well as any collaborations or partnerships in the works? AC: We are obsessive about the performance of our garments – whether that’s superior compression fabrics that require enhanced power, or moisture management with a faster rate of wicking. To achieve this, we tend to work with mills to create new and proprietary fabrics, rather than just buying something off the roll.  We like to demand more from the fabric technicians and mills so we achieve greater performance in our garments. These days it’s not just performance, but also sustainability, so this search always includes yarns that are recycled, or materials that are robust and help to reduce the fast fashion cycle.  Once you have the fabrics nailed, you also need to ensure the blocks fit well and are comfortable, so this requires ongoing refining and athlete testing, using the latest in construction techniques and quality of trims to ensure customers can focus on their exercise and output, and not be distracted by lack of comfort or mediocre performance. IR: How do you see the compression and recovery market evolving in Australia – both in terms of high performance and everyday wear – and what role does SA1NT Layers have to play in this growth? AC: It’s fascinating to witness the number of serious compression brands in Australia that have fallen away over the last decade. I think some brands might have seen compression as a fad, but its benefits are undeniable, with most serious athletes using a quality compression garment as a piece of essential recovery equipment.  The irony is, the less fit you are, the greater the support and recovery benefits can be. There are many modalities for recovery – from sleep and nutrition to massage to ice baths, but  SA1NT Layers garments can act as a wonderful, non-invasive and passive recovery tool.  It’s like a massage in a box which will help with recovery, even when you’re just resting on the couch. IR: How do you see the business scaling and growing moving forward? Are there plans for stand-alone stores, a wholesale presence and so on? AC: We are still in the start-up mode, and are at the exciting build phase – bringing attention to products that we are proud of and believe in. We are currently building ambassadors and sponsorships, engaging resellers, and [have our eyes on] pop-up stores and international distribution in coming years.  IR: Finally, can you tell me about how Sa1nt is performing, as well as the plans for the business moving forward? AC: SA1NT as a group went through some tough times during Covid-19, with distribution slowing and retail accounts closing. But steps like licensing off our workwear division last year, and launching our new Layers brand this year, provide us with confidence that we will be able to continue to grow profitably into the future. Our goal is delivering a brand with an equity value of well beyond A$100 million within the coming decade.