« Swobo introduces new urban bike collection | Main | Explore the 9rules community, find cool things »

March 07, 2007

How would you design cycling apparel for women?

Specialized_gloves_women_specificLinda Morgi is frustrated with all of the pink and baby blue found in women's cycling apparel today. Linda on Specialized's womens cycling gloves:

But yikes, come on, I don’t want to look like a baby room! Baby blue and pastel pink - and that’s all the colors they come in (and this is not even a choice… if you want short gloves it’s pink, long gloves it’s baby blue)…

So I'm sitting here pretending that I'm a product manager (wait a minute, I am a product manager - just not in the cycling industry) for Specialized and I'm totally perplexed. I hear Linda's frustration. There's no doubt that this incident would appear to highlight an overly simplistic view of the women's cycling market. But just what is a cycling product manager to do?

These days, women have it all. They get to be pretty and tough and wear mens clothes and they're even beginning to turn the term slut into a badge of honor. Now, it would seem that I am saying that with a hint of disdain. Trust me, I'm not. I was raised by women (wow, I said that like I meant to say "I was raised by a pack of wolves"). But, given all of the personas (not sure that's the right word) women can take on these days, how would one design a line of clothing, equipment, or bikes that would not seem to alienate some significant portion of the market?

If the clothes are conservatively designed, there are women that will want them to be sexier. If the colors are too dark, they may be seen as too masculine. If the choices are the same as for men, they will not be seen as special. A conundrum to be sure.

So what would you do? Play cycling product manager for a day. What's your strategy to approach this market, whether you are male or female?

Update: Both Smithers and Phil have something to say about this topic...check them out. (Hey, Smithers stop stealing all my comments...haha...just kidding...love to see the conversation expand.)

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b7e469e200d834fba41a53ef

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference How would you design cycling apparel for women?:

Comments

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Subscribe

Go Clipless b-sides

Music reviews in 10 words or less


9rules

  • Member of 9rules Network

Copyright