GONSO: over 90 years of textile experience
It’s one of those stories only life can write which led to GONSO concentrating on today's core segment: functional cycling clothing. In 1979, a severe osteoarthritis forced Hans Gonser, the grandson of GONSO founder Johannes Gonser,to take a long health-related break. The passionate cyclist had to absolve his sessions on the home trainer, which quickly led to injuries that made continuing almost impossible. That's why he asked his team of developers to sew a piece of deerskin into his cycling shorts for a better protection of his buttocks.
At the same time, Hans Gonser noted that, while professional cyclists were equipped by their sponsors, there was not a single bikewear collection for recreational cyclists. He decided to change that, and in 1980 GONSO produced the first collection of functional cycling clothing in Germany, offering the first cycling shorts with synthetic seat padding. From here on, the success story of GONSO soon started to take off – first in Germany, then in Europe and finally in the world. Some big names of the international cycling community quickly helped the brand to achieve cult status – not only among cycling enthusiasts.