the apparel
THE REC ATHLETE Online Shop was CONCEIVED from a desire to create athletic and performance apparel For my training videos.
THE APPAREL
Using me as her muse, my wife Caroline began designing our online shop offerings. What began with a basic white tee printed with our logo has evolved into the wide assortment of items currently available in our Online Shop. After ordering some samples for ourselves we soon realized that if we liked these items so much maybe others would too.
Let’s face it. Athletes like to be comfortable. Caroline wanted the brand foundation to be essentials (cotton tees, sweatshirts, and hoodies) that were anything but basic. As a fan of embroidery, she created items for TRA Everyday, a collection of black and white essentials featuring a contrasting embroidered TRA logo. She later created Monochrome, a sub-category that includes a few favorite TRA Everyday items with a monochromatic logo for an understated look.
Caroline designed items that she would like to see me wear, and later, things she’d like to wear. TRA Limited Edition was created as an avenue to experiment with elevated details, rich colors and interesting prints while maintaining the brand DNA of quality, comfort and style.
We also wanted to celebrate the love REC athletes have for their recreational sport(s) of choice. The TRA I REC Shop, our specialty shop featuring black and white sport-specific apparel and accessories, was created so we can wear what we REC.
The TRA x adidas® shop, a selection of adidas-licensed apparel and accessories, was created to align TRA with an established brand that evokes quality and a similar aesthetic.
TRA Training was a natural progression after the other shops were created. As a fitness brand it made sense for us to aggregate our performance apparel and gear from other shops in one place, making them easier for customers to find. It also provided an avenue to offer KB Swing + 5 gear and expand our performance apparel offerings in the future.
Caroline loves vibrant color and believed that many of our customers would also. She wanted to offer a colorful fashion collection as an alternative to the black and white essentials in TRA Everyday and the richly-colored selections in TRA Limited Edition. Our TRA Hue Collection was created as a result.
TRA Hue Collection comprises vibrantly colored items and distinctive prints of varying hues organized by color story. TRA Hue Collection items can be easily combined with items in our other shops. While most of the Online Shop apparel items are for athletes and are sized accordingly, this size-inclusive collection was created so everyone can enjoy the brand. To further encourage inclusivity, many items offered in the Online Shop are unisex.
TRA Full Logo Unisex Hoodie
TRA Full Logo Unisex Sweatshirt
THE INSPIRATION
In photo: TRA x adidas Golf Cap and Performance Pullover, TRA Unisex Fleece Sweatpants and TRA Backpack
our apparel line was inspired by watching pro basketball players show off their pre-game gear on their way to the locker room.
We’ve all seen athletes as they walk in before games looking polished and stylish in their gear - expressing their unique style - and Caroline wanted to create an apparel line for REC athletes capturing that spirit. She is constantly refining her design eye and wanted to create a brand that was elevated and unique, but accessible.
We want recreational athletes to feel good in their gear when they enter their respective arenas, courts or playing fields and set out to create a brand that facilitates that. We believe when REC athletes choose to wear TRA they can feel polished and stylish like their favorite pro athletes.
THE STYLE
In photo: TRA x adidas Performance Pullover, TRA Unisex Fleece Sweatpants and TRA Backpack
Caroline loves fashion, interior design, and architecture. many of the designs were inspired by her design eye.
She enjoys combining unexpected color and print combinations along with interesting textures and patterns. She took great pleasure in sourcing and curating the designs in our Online Shop.
Caroline also created and authors TRA Style Guide - a compilation of outfit styling suggestions using featured items from our Specialty Shops along with sneaker recommendations. Think of it as your own TRA personal stylist. Follow THE REC ATHLETE Online Shop on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube (@shoptherecathlete) for more Style Guides and outfit inspiration.
Within the TRA Style Guide she conceptualized and created the Unlock your Style feature, which provides customers a method of previewing item combinations before purchase. By swiping product images (arranged in horizontal categories) left or right, customers can create a vertical combinations, similar to unlocking a combination lock or a safe. Once they’ve ‘cracked’ their style, they can then click on the item(s) to purchase.
The great thing about our items is that they are not only stylish, they are comfortable. Our primary offerings are fleece-lined printed jackets and sweatshirts, fleece sweatpants, as well as cotton and cotton-blend tees, sweatshirts and hoodies.
I founded TRA; but I’m also a customer. I can personally attest to the style and comfort of the brand. Stylish and comfortable. That’s TRA style.
THE INVESTMENT
In photo: TRA x adidas Performance Pullover, TRA Unisex Fleece Sweatpants and TRA Backpack
Investing in workout, lounge or athletic clothing may not be a priority for many people. We want to change that.
We want people to look good and feel comfortable without the effort and believe our clothes can help.
This philosophy was born out of my wife’s experience with investing in workout clothes. It wasn’t until she began investing in them that she felt better about working out and how she looked while doing it.
With that sentiment she also wanted to add her unique perspective to the marketplace. THE REC ATHLETE offers stylish and comfortable items that easily transition from leisure to play so we can look great doing whatever we do.
Discover more about THE REC ATHLETE.