Don’t let the boss know, but Pearl Izumi employees have a ping pong table and they’re not afraid to use it
Pearl will be rearranging facilities soon, but much of the US supply is housed in the Louisville facility
The wall of shame/fame: Pearl’s recent ads have met with varying responses — some never saw the light of day
Don’t try this at home
The lower ad ran in a few publications; the upper did not
A view of the prototyping area from the second-floor offices
Nhu Tran working on a pair of shorts
Deme Junio putting together a garment for Argos-Shimano
Lia Bybee, Pearl Izumi Speed Shop’s head of Advanced Development, lays out a pattern for cyclo-cross warm-up pants for Jannick Eckmann, son of Pearl Izumi president Juergen Eckmann
Bybee lays out Thermal Fleece material for Eckmann’s ’cross pants
Work 10 years, get a tiny jersey
A view of the prototyping area from the second-floor offices
Diana Sibayan working on a pair of shorts
Deme Junio putting together a garment for Argos-Shimano
Lia Bybee, Pearl Izumi Speed Shop’s head of Advanced Development, lays out a pattern for cyclo-cross warm-up pants for Yannick Eckmann, son of Pearl Izumi president Juergen Eckmann
Bybee lays out Thermal Fleece material for Eckmann’s ’cross pants
Work 10 years, get a tiny jersey
Pearl Izumi has a deep inventory of proprietary technical fabrics
Pearl Izumi has taken many of its fabrics into wind tunnels for aerodynamic testing
Pearl Izumi has recently ramped up its custom program, primarily for bike shops and events
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge used Pearl Izumi for its leaders jerseys in 2012
Pearl Izumi president Juergen Eckmann doesn’t walk the talk – he runs or rides it
Dozens of bikes pack the Pearl Izumi warehouse
The noon hour at Pearl is for riding or running. Lunch can be eaten at the desks later…
On any given day there is a crew going out for a lunch ride at Pearl
Pearl Izumi sponsors Bermuda’s Olympic triathlete Flora Duffy
Duffy’s custom Pearl running shoes
Tejay van Garderen’s custom Octane SL III
Pearl Izumi has made cycling clothing for the top professionals dating back to the early US Postal Service squad. For the 2012 London Olympics, Americans Tejay van Garderen and Kristin Armstrong will be racing in Pearl’s Octane SL III shoes, each with their own graphics.
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The superlight shoes (195g for a single size 42) forgo any type of mechanical closure, and the mesh portions of the upper add noticeable ventilation.
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BikeRadar recently toured Pearl Izumi’s facility in Louisville, Colorado, where designing and refining shoes and clothing for top athletes and everyday riders is a daily process. Click through the gallery at right for your own tour.
