Under Armour

Performance wear and sports equipment brand Under Armour was launched in 1995 by University of Maryland fullback Kevin Plank with not much of a plan beyond apparel trade. While an athlete, a key thing he noticed with his shirts beneath jerseys that they would get soaked in sweat while his compression shorts stayed dry, and this inspired him to create shirts made out of the same material. It would prove to be a genius move by Plank, later copied by athletic wear giants such as Nike, Reebok, and Adidas. Today, Under Armour is considered the innovator of performance apparel, marrying technology and clothing in a way that keeps the wearer light and efficient.