Blackmile: New "Funky" Greek Sports Accessory Brand Eyes World Markets

Blackmile, a new multisports brand designed in Greece, aims to spread further into the world market after a successful launch in March of this year.
Blackmile is a start-up company, focusing on providing the athlete with the ultimate in sports performance accessories.
As its creative founder Stelios Vasilas explains, the purpose of Blackmile “is not just the birth of a new athletic brand, but the creation of funky, innovational athletic equipment.”
“I called the company Blackmile to highlight that the most difficult part of any race, whether in sport or in life, is the last stretch. The time when one is exhausted, thinking that perhaps he/she should give up, but decides to go for it!” the creator adds.

Blackmile has created a wide range of accessories including innovative sport caps, swimming caps, sun glasses, towels and water bottles aimed at athletes that Vasilas says “dare to use new, stylish gadgets.”
Vasilas knows athletes inside out. He himself took part in triathlons, a demanding sport which includes swimming, bicycling and running. At the same time his experience in the advertising and marketing sector have pushed him to dream of a new sports brand.
“Since I love both sport and marketing, I decided to combine them in this venture,” he says.
With limited funds, and with the help of close friends and colleagues, including current designer Stavros Kypraios, he created Blackmile, which within a short time span has captured the imagination of many Greek athletes.
A host of Greek athletes are now showcasing Blackmile’s merchandise, including champion swimmer Kelly Araouzou and triathlon champion Panagiotis Dimopoulos.

Blackmile’s presence has spread quickly throughout Greece and its stylish products were recently used by athletes at two of the most prominent and glamorous sporting events: The Spetses Mini-Marathon and the Navarino Challenge.
“We focus our efforts to make a mark on the world market. It is important that a Greek brand does well abroad,” Vasilas says.
“At the same time we are making sure that the basic concept of the brand remains unchanged,” he adds.