Decathlon Partners with Rheon Labs to Launch Advanced Performance Sportswear

Decathlon has entered into a strategic partnership with Rheon Labs, gaining access to the company’s full suite of material technologies, including both current and upcoming innovations that respond to varying strain rates. This collaboration is set to drive the development of sportswear designed to enhance control, comfort, and performance for athletes and everyday consumers alike. The partnership’s first product, a Kiprun running tight, is scheduled for release in autumn/winter 2025. This garment is engineered to direct energy efficiently and reduce unnecessary muscle movement during activity. Additional innovations are in development across several sportswear categories, with the first new technologies for Decathlon’s fitness brand, Domyos, expected to launch in 2026. Central to this collaboration is Rheon Labs’ patented polymer, Rheon, which adapts dynamically to movement by remaining soft during regular activity and becoming stiffer under stress or impact. This smart material, originally developed as part of a NASA project and refined at Imperial College London over 15 years, is intended to provide tailored support, dissipate energy, and maintain freedom of movement. The partnership reflects a shared vision to make advanced sports technology widely accessible, moving innovations from elite athletic use to mainstream consumers. Both companies are committed to co-developing products that foster inclusivity and elevate the role of sports in everyday life. This initiative follows Decathlon Pulse’s previous collaboration with Unspun, aimed at introducing sustainable 3D weaving technology to European apparel manufacturing.