SKINS
An Australian sportswear brand known for compression garments for athletes and sports enthusiasts.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
SKINS is an Australian sportswear brand focused on compression garments for athletes, active consumers and sports enthusiasts. It was established in 1996 by Brad Duffy, an Australian physiologist and ski enthusiast, and developed around the idea that close-fitting technical garments could support sporting performance and recovery. The company initially operated with a narrow product range and a direct-to-consumer sales model, but later expanded into a broad portfolio covering multiple sports and performance uses. The brand introduced its first three named ranges in 1998: JetSkins for travel, SportsSkins for multisport activity and SnowSkins for alpine sports. Its earliest products were primarily long tights, sold through the internet and telesales. Australian cricketer Steve Waugh served as an early public representative of the brand, helping SKINS establish visibility in the sports market. By 2002, production was still taking place in Sydney while distribution had expanded to approximately 20 Australian retail outlets. That year, Australian entrepreneur Jaimie Fuller became chief executive officer. During the 2000s, SKINS expanded beyond its original base in long compression tights. Its product architecture came to include garments designed for golf, cycling, triathlon, snow sports and other athletic activities. By 2008, the business was reported to offer more than 160 compression products, employ approximately 80 full-time staff and distribute through more than 800 specialist retailers in Australia. Compression clothing remained the central brand proposition, with the range extending to apparel such as tops, tights and compression stockings. Some compression stockings were registered in Australia as medical devices for reducing oedema, although the brand's core identity remained sports performance rather than clinical healthcare. SKINS also pursued international distribution and co-branding. In 2010, it partnered with Chinese sportswear manufacturer Li-Ning on products for the Chinese market. In 2012, it entered a distribution partnership with Japan's Itochu Corporation covering Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. These arrangements reflected an effort to broaden the brand's presence in Asian sportswear markets. Marketing was an important and sometimes contentious part of SKINS' identity. The company used provocative advertising, including a 2006 campaign that incorporated an inverted Nike swoosh across athletes' mouths. Nike requested that the campaign stop, and SKINS discontinued it, although the work was praised in some advertising circles for its creativity. The company also became involved in legal proceedings in Australia over claims made in advertising and retail pricing practices. In 2009, the Federal Court of Australia found against SKINS in proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission concerning allegedly misleading statements about athlete sponsorship and a retail price-maintenance matter. The company provided court undertakings, paid costs and published corrective advertising. The brand positioned itself publicly as an opponent of doping in sport. It became the first company certified by BikePure, an independent organisation associated with ethical cycling and anti-doping activity. In 2013, SKINS launched the Pure Sport anti-doping initiative, calling for changes involving the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Former Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson participated in the initiative. SKINS also participated in projects beyond conventional sportswear. In 2004, it worked with Mars Society Australia on MarsSkin, a prototype spacesuit tested in the Flinders Ranges in Australia. After the operating company filed for bankruptcy in a Swiss court in January 2019, the SKINS brand and related intellectual property were acquired by Hong Kong-based Symphony Holdings and placed under new management. Publicly available reference material does not establish the brand's current operating scale, headquarters, leadership team or product availability, so those details remain unconfirmed. Skins is an Australian sportswear brand specializing in compression garments designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery.
History
SKINS was founded in Australia in 1996 by Brad Duffy, a physiologist and ski enthusiast. The business was built around compression sportswear, initially concentrating on long tights intended for athletes and active consumers. Its first product families arrived in 1998 under the JetSkins, SportsSkins and SnowSkins names, addressing travel, general multisport use and alpine activity. Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh was selected as an early public face of the company. The original business used online sales and telesales before expanding into physical retail. By 2002, its products were still manufactured in Sydney and were available through about 20 Australian retail outlets. Jaimie Fuller became chief executive during this period. Under the company's subsequent expansion, SKINS developed a much broader technical apparel catalogue, with products for cycling, golf, triathlon, snow sports and other athletic activities. By 2008, published accounts described more than 160 compression products, around 80 full-time employees and distribution through over 800 specialist retailers in Australia. The company also explored uses and partnerships outside its principal sportswear business. In 2004, SKINS worked with Mars Society Australia on MarsSkin, an experimental spacesuit prototype tested in the Flinders Ranges. Its compression stockings were listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods as medical devices for reducing oedema. These activities broadened the technical associations of the brand, although sports performance remained its principal commercial focus. SKINS developed an international strategy through partnerships. In 2010, it collaborated with Li-Ning on co-branded products for China. In 2012, Itochu became a distribution partner for Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The brand also promoted an anti-doping position. It was the first company certified by BikePure, an organisation supporting ethical cycling and anti-doping research, and in September 2013 it introduced the Pure Sport campaign. The initiative sought reform involving the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency and included former Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson. Advertising was deliberately provocative. A 2006 campaign used an upside-down Nike swoosh over athletes' mouths. Nike objected, and SKINS ended the campaign, though advertising commentators reportedly praised its creative execution. Other advertising created more serious legal exposure. Campaigns from 2005 and 2006 included the statement that the company did not pay sports stars to wear its products and that athletes paid SKINS instead. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission challenged the accuracy of that representation and identified sponsored athletes. In 2009, the Federal Court of Australia found in favour of the ACCC in the relevant proceedings. The court also upheld an allegation concerning retail price maintenance, involving a request that an Adelaide retailer not reduce product prices. SKINS agreed to court undertakings, payment of costs and corrective advertising. In January 2019, the company filed for bankruptcy in Switzerland. Symphony Holdings, a Hong Kong-based holding company, subsequently acquired the SKINS brand and associated intellectual property and placed it under new management. Available reference material does not provide sufficient information to confirm the brand's current product range, management, headquarters or commercial scale after the acquisition.
- 2019
Symphony Holdings acquires the brand
[1]After a Swiss bankruptcy filing, Symphony Holdings acquired the SKINS trademark rights and related intellectual property.
- 2013
Pure Sport anti-doping campaign launched
[1]SKINS introduced a campaign advocating changes to international anti-doping systems.
- 2012
Itochu distribution partnership
[1]Itochu supported distribution across Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
- 2010
Li-Ning collaboration
[1]SKINS partnered with Li-Ning on co-branded products for China.
- 2009
Federal Court advertising and pricing judgment
[1]The Federal Court of Australia ruled in proceedings involving advertising claims and retail price maintenance.
- 2008
Product and retail network expansion
[1]The company was reported to offer more than 160 compression products and sell through over 800 specialist Australian retailers.
- 2004
MarsSkin prototype tested
[1]SKINS worked with Mars Society Australia on a prototype spacesuit tested in the Flinders Ranges.
- 2002
Jaimie Fuller becomes CEO
[1]Fuller was appointed chief executive as the company developed its Australian retail distribution.
- 1998
First three product ranges launched
[1]JetSkins, SportsSkins and SnowSkins were introduced for travel, multisport and alpine applications.
- 1996
Company founded in Australia
[1]Brad Duffy founded the business that became SKINS, focusing on compression apparel for sporting and active uses.
Products and positioning
Technical compression sportswear combining athletic performance, support and recovery-oriented functionality.
Travel compression apparel · 1998
JetSkins
One of SKINS' original 1998 ranges, JetSkins was designed for travel-related use within the company's early compression-apparel proposition.
Multisport compression apparel · 1998
SportsSkins
An original SKINS range aimed at general multisport activity. It represented the brand's initial move from a single long-tights concept toward activity-specific technical apparel.
Alpine and snow-sports apparel · 1998
SnowSkins
The SnowSkins line was introduced for alpine pursuits and formed part of the brand's first three product families.
Performance sportswear
SKINS compression garments
The broader SKINS range included compression tights, tops and other close-fitting garments for activities including cycling, golf, triathlon and snow sports. By 2008, the company was reported to offer more than 160 compression products.
Compression medical device
SKINS compression stockings
SKINS compression stockings were listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods as a medical device for reducing oedema.
Controversies
2009
Australian advertising and retail pricing proceedings
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission challenged SKINS advertising that claimed athletes paid the company to wear its products rather than receiving sponsorship payments. The Federal Court of Australia also upheld an allegation concerning retail price maintenance involving an Adelaide retailer. SKINS provided undertakings, paid costs and published corrective advertising.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Pure Sport
International
Pure Sport was an anti-doping initiative that petitioned for changes involving the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Former Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson participated. The campaign reinforced SKINS' public association with ethical sport and opposition to blood doping; its institutional policy outcome is not established by the available material.
Outcome. The campaign reinforced SKINS' public association with ethical sport and opposition to blood doping; its institutional policy outcome is not established by the available material.
- 2006Inverted Nike swoosh campaign
Australia
SKINS used an inverted Nike swoosh across athletes' mouths in a provocative advertising execution. Nike demanded that the campaign cease, and SKINS stopped using it, while advertising commentators praised its creativity.
Outcome. The campaign was discontinued after Nike's objection, while advertising commentators praised its creativity.
Brand decisions
2019
Acquisition by Symphony HoldingsM&ABackground
The operating company filed for bankruptcy in a Swiss court in January 2019.
Action taken
Symphony Holdings acquired the SKINS brand and associated intellectual property and placed the business under new management.
Aftermath
Ownership of the brand moved to Hong Kong-based Symphony Holdings. Current operations and management are not confirmed by the available reference material.
2012
Itochu distribution agreementStrategyBackground
SKINS pursued wider distribution in East Asian markets.
Action taken
The company partnered with Itochu to distribute products in Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Aftermath
The agreement broadened the intended regional distribution footprint, although subsequent commercial results are not available here.
2010
China co-branding partnership with Li-NingStrategyBackground
SKINS sought to develop its presence in the Chinese sportswear market.
Action taken
It partnered with Li-Ning to produce co-branded products for China.
Aftermath
The partnership expanded the brand's commercial and distribution links in China; later performance is not documented in the available material.
Recent events
Xinfeng Group completes acquisition of SKINS global trademarks and patents[2]
Reported:
Xinfeng Group announced that it had completed the acquisition of more than 900 SKINS trademarks and patents worldwide, including core technology and design patents and all SKINS trademarks, along with the rights to develop, produce, promote and sell SKINS products globally.
Sources4 sources
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