Gus’ Fashion Forays Rise To the Occasion and Are Worthy of His Name
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Performance lifestyle brand Rhone is celebrating Pride Month this year with two new collections: The Worthy x Rhone collection designed in partnership with Olympic Skier and Activist, Gus Kenworthy, along with the brand’s Pride 2022 collection.
A portion of proceeds from both collections will benefit The Worthy Foundation, founded by Kenworthy, which focuses on supporting LGBT communities and the challenges they regularly confront.
The Worthy x Rhone collection features a Tie Dye Hoodie in two colorways, in addition to the Reign Short Sleeve Tee and 6” Lined Swift Short in Black–with all pieces featuring Rhone’s and The Worthy Foundation’s logos.
White embroidery spells out the collection name on the hoodie, while an ombre rainbow effect logo is screen-printed onto the tee and short.
As a brand committed to inclusivity, Rhone’s partnership with Kenworthy demonstrates an expansion of that guiding principle and showcases its support for all communities and the multifaceted challenges they face.
Kenworthy says:
“I’m honored to have Rhone join The Worthy Foundation’s family of partners. Rhone’s philanthropic efforts and support of causes, specifically relating to mental health, have reinforced my love and support for the brand. Their advocacy of and commitment to the LGBTQ+ community will help The Worthy Foundation as we raise awareness for positive change.”
Rhone’s Pride capsule features two of the brand’s fan-favorite styles, the Element Tee and Swift Short, in black with subtle nods to the Pride flag featured on the front of the tee and on the side seams of the shorts.
The Pride Element Tee offers a refreshing new take on a widely loved style – it’s a classic fit made with a completely organic and sustainable cotton blend.
On this tee, Rhone’s signature captain’s stitch embroidered on the hem of the sleeve is upgraded to a rainbow colorway.
Rhone’s Pride Swift Shorts are engineered with breathable, four-way stretch lightweight fabric, complete with added support and smart storage. The reflective rainbow effect along the side seam of the shorts is made possible by a special matte technique, creating a dynamic color story as the wearer moves. Both styles feature GOLDFUSION™ Anti-Odor Technology, keeping you fresh all day.
Rhone’s Creative Director and Co-Founder Ben Checketts, who is spearheading the brand’s Pride collections, says:
“Rhone is driven by its commitment to support every community in their pursuits. While developing our Pride collections, we wanted to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Working with a partner like Gus on one of the collections, and being able to draw on his knowledge, allowed us to more fully understand the needs of the community and the opportunities for progress.”
Both of the collections will be available to shop on Rhone.com and in select Rhone retail locations.
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American freestyle skier Kenworthy had yet to come out when he won his silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The then-23-year-old athlete was very aware that he was competing in Games colored by Russia’s newly enacted anti-LGBTQ propaganda law that made it virtually illegal for queer people to even express their identities openly. Many LGBTQ athletes, including Kenworthy, chose to keep their protests silent for the sake of competing — and their own personal safety. But a year later, he’d had enough of the closet.
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Kenworthy came out publicly as gay in a 2015 interview with ESPN the Magazine, becoming the first action-sports star at the Olympic level to do so. Response from the sporting world was immediate and positive, and the subsequent years proved to be a groundbreaking time in the athlete’s life.
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Russia’s antigay stance sparked a dialogue about LGBT rights and the safety of being out in sports. The positive response to Kenworthy’s coming out lent credence to the idea that homophobia in the sports world was actually waning. Athletes like Kenworthy, Jason Collins, and Robbie Rogers kept these conversations going all the way to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea where Kenworthy and figure skating champion Adam Rippon became bona fide gay superheroes for being out, proud, and competing on an international scale.
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Kenworthy made history at the 2018 games when he locked lips with his boyfriend, Matt Wilkas, on live TV, before completing his qualifying run in the men’s slopestyle. The kiss was lauded as a significant moment in visibility for LGBT athletes.
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In 2019, Kenworthy participated in the AIDS/LifeCycle ride, a 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2019, raising $249,745 for the organization. He works with the Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, along with the Happy Hippie Foundation, aiding and focusing on homelessness and LGBT rights.
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Learn more about The Worthy Foundation here.
Follow Kenworthy on Instagram.
