Frustrated by the offerings available to women athletes and the problems common to the women they participated with, Kona Ironman finishers Kebby Holden and Hailey Manning started Coeur (chosen as it is both the French word for ‘heart’ and the base of the word ‘courage’) to create ultra functional and smart products for women athletes. Using feedback from other athletes, Kebby and Hailey sought to eliminate fit, chafing, and storage issues with a Made in the USA product, while keeping their apparel stylish with clever cuts and colorful, fashion-forward prints. If the enthusiasm of the women seeing the product in the booth for the first time was any indication, Coeur is definitely a new brand to watch. Click past the jump for their clever solution to the “women’s bib problem…”
With chafing being high on the list of concerns for meaty-thighed endurance athletes, Coeur produced this ingenious tri short. The minimal soft chamois extends from leg-band to leg-band and packs a two-in-one punch. In addition to preventing thigh rub by extending down the leg, and being held in place by the inner grip on the leg-band, the chamois won’t bunch up awkwardly and uncomfortably in the anatomy of intimate area.
While people seem to be going over the top with inventing or reinventing a women’s bib, it is always fun to see a refreshing new, minimal solution. Coeur utilizes a zipper running from the bottom of leg band to the top of the right side of the short, allowing users to partially remove the short for bathroom emergencies (visualize moving your swimsuit bottom to the side).
The result is a simple, effective solution to the problem without the acrobatics of attempting to actuate zippers or buttons behind your back. Also, the zipper is protected by an inner flap to, once again, protect against zipper chafing. The wide leg-band, as on the shorts, prevents pinching at your thighs and the upper section of the bib is mesh to keep the rider dry and cool.
Additionally, apparel in the line is packed with storage solutions. Shorts, bibs, and tops all feature clever pockets hiding everywhere. The sports bras even feature front internal pockets, a much better solution for keeping your cell phone, keys, mp3 players, etc. secure during a run or while at the gym.
