'Women's cycling is kind of punk rock' - the designer and story behind the Tour de France Femmes’ coolest kits

Apparel designer McKenzie Sampson has spent 17 years crafting cycling kits, with a focus on the Canyon-SRAM women’s WorldTour team. His journey began when his daughter was two or three years old, sitting on his lap as he developed Harmonic Riff, the team's inaugural kit. The girl would envelop the fabric swatches around her shoulders, displaying her enthusiasm for the designs. This connection between Sampson and his daughter became a source of motivation during the late nights and endless revisions.

Canyon-SRAM's women's team, which entered the peloton in 2016, has taken on a powerful narrative with its 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift kit. The kit, composed of white, pink, blue, orange, and green, is adorned with a "We Femmes" wordmark across the chest, back, and sleeves. This phrase represents a decade-long journey for Canyon-SRAM and an invitation to the global cycling community: to bring at least 1,000 women to free rides and events over the next decade.

Sampson's design process involves several layers, starting with a deep understanding of the team's energy and the constraints imposed by sponsors and brand colors. The designer's background in skateboarding, snowboarding, and wakeboarding, coupled with his experience in performance clothing, allows him to blend various influences into his work.

By creating a coherent design that maintains its visual appeal, whether the rider is standing still or racing at high speeds, Sampson ensures that the jersey becomes an integral part of the team's identity.