Hill City’s older sister, Athleta, has made a name for itself in the athleisure space alongside competitors like Lululemon and Outdoor Voices.
As a women-focused brand, CMO Sheila Shekar Pollak told Retail Dive earlier this year that the decision to create a separate, male brand was very intentional, so Athleta could continue to be a brand that “uniquely delivers for women and girls.”
At the same time, the company had noticed interest in a men’s offering from shoppers of the brand. In some ways, Hill City’s planned entrance in seven Athleta stores makes sense for that reason: to take advantage of a customer base that has already expressed interest in that category.