The recent firestorm surrounding fitness apparel companies YoungLa (YL) and Rawgear (RG) is just the latest controversy showing the dark side of an industry obsessed with money, clout and tearing each other down. As a passionate gamer concerned about integrity across all communities I engage in, I decided to dig deeper into these allegations and analyze what solutions could improve standards industry-wide.
Customer List Sharing and Design Copying
The practice of downloading competitor customer lists came to light recently when YL allegedly exploited the client information of influencer and brand owner Bradley Martyn. But according to industry insiders, this kind of data poaching has been an open secret. Without explicit consent, this violates privacy and controls your personal information for potential gain.
Along similar lines, leaked DMs revealed that upstart companies like YL and RG have allegedly knocked off designs from Gymshark and others, tweaking them just enough to avoid legal repercussions. Unlike sectors like gaming where blatantly copying intellectual property prompts outrage, many customers seem unaware when supporting these fast fashion fitness brands.
Industry Veteran Vanessa Campbell explains, "I’ve seen big companies buy leggings from China, put their label in them, mark up the price by $50+ then promote them to their audience like it’s their own designs. Sadly fans believe it too. This practice is far too common."
| Brand | Accused of Copying | Potential Violations |
|---|---|---|
| YoungLa | Gymshark, Bradley Martyn | IP infringement, data privacy |
| Rawgear | 1st Phorm, Trojan | IP infringement |
| Ryderwear | Gymshark, Bowflex | IP infringement |
| BuffBunny | Lululemon, Gymshark | IP infringement |
With fitness apparel projected to be a $547 billion industry by 2025, the incentives to cheat instead of invest in original designs and ethical data practices remains high. So does the importance of customer awareness.
Athlete Poaching and Non-Disparagements
Behind the scenes, talent wars rage between brands like YL and RG looking for their next viral star. This manifests in aggressive athlete recruiting tactics where upstarts lure away sponsors’ top stars with undercutting offers difficult to match. High flyers then agree to exclusivity, non-disparagement and non-compete clauses tightly controlling what they say publicly about the brand.
Former YL athlete Julian Smith opened up that his departure was not amicable, saying “I don‘t want to bash anybody or throw anybody under the bus, but some stuff happened that I didn‘t agree with…and I‘ll leave it at that.”
These restrictive contracts traded for exposure opportunities pressure talent to ignore wrongdoing. Like gaming personalities coerced into questionable gambling sponsorships, those reliant on fitness branding for income become reluctant to speak openly about concerning behavior. This allows issues to compound while senior figures evade accountability.
Non-Disparagement Clause Example:
"The Athlete will not make any negative or disparaging statements, directly or indirectly, on any platform or media about the Company, its brand, employees, or officers during the term of this agreement. This extends to any existing or potential partnerships, products, launches and other business."This omerta or code of silence ensures problems fester beneath the surface of flashy launches and hypebeast merch drops. The ultimate losers here are customers left unaware their dollars and views enable the clout games playing out behind the scenes.
Prioritizing Financial Returns Over Community Values
Zooming out, the root of all these issues seems to be business incentives thoroughly misaligned from the spirit of community originally making fitness culture inspiring. What began as passionate lifting groups encouraging self-betterment has now become overrun by financialized vultures seeing only dollar signs and celebrity.
Net Return on Investment rules all business decisions as growth is pursued at any cost. Quick flips off copying proven designs beat slow and steady innovation. Piggybacking off established followings overrides building authentic grassroots audiences. Short-term athlete deals maximizing clicks displace long-term creator partnerships.
When success is defined solely by profits and virality, corners get cut. Ethics get tossed aside. Anything for more views, sales and margins each quarter – community be damned. Financial market pressure ripples down to contort every choice towards maximum monetary extraction. The only way out is raising awareness while advocating for integrity from the ground up.
| Focus | Community-Driven Brand | Financialized Brand |
|---|---|---|
| Key Goal | Enable self-betterment | Maximize profits |
| Success Metric | Help people reach goals | Sales, conversions |
| Ethics | Openness, integrity | Hidden terms, fine print |
| Creator Relation | Partnership, trust | Transactional |
| Fan Experience | Belonging, growth | Consumption |
This is the dark side playing out as money twists fitness culture into models scantly clad for the Male Gaze pumped through funnels aimed at extracting as much wealth as possible. But as passionate, conscious consumers, we have power to say "no more" and demand better.
Advocating for Ethics as Conscious Gamers
As a fellow passionate gaming community member, this kind of controversy sounds all too familiar. I know how demoralizing it feels when profit-chasers infiltrate ecosystems built on shared interests and twist them into cash cows. Sponsorships should support creators, just as brands should respect customers – not squeeze them dry.
Fitness fashion finds itself at a tipping point where action must be taken to prevent total loss of identity. Though change won‘t happen overnight, progress starts by advocating for practices focused on people over profits. Here are some initial solutions I propose drawing inspiration from reform campaigns in gaming:
Community Standards
Grassroots campaigns where consumers and creators draft integrity pledges defining acceptable practices. Brand signatories held accountable through public reporting systems.
Open Collaboration
Facilitated working groups for designers and brands establishing positive-sum partnerships, preventing races to the bottom.
Creative Commons
Alternate IP sharing systems allowing customization while protecting core attributes, avoiding legal sledgehammers.
Ethical Awareness
Consumer guides, social channels and media spotlighting conscientious brands leading on values alignment – applying both public praise and pressure.
| Initiative | Method | Intended Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Community Standards | – Public pledges – Reporting systems |
– Increased accountability – Spotlight issues early |
| Open Collaboration | – Designer working groups – Joint licensing models |
– Encourage innovation – Avoid copycat races |
| Creative Commons | – Differentiate IP aspects – Enable customization |
– Maintain uniqueness – Softer IP barriers |
| Ethical Awareness | – Consumer guides – Watchdog groups |
– Reward conscientious brands – Apply public pressure |
Through grassroots action, fitness fashion can reorient from clout to community. The road won’t be easy with entrenched incentives at odds, but staying silent enables continuation of exploitation. Only through brave, uncomfortable conversations, consistently choosing people over profits each day can positive change happen.
I urge all fellow gamers who also pursue fitness to apply our hard-won experience fighting greed in gaming. Join me in speaking out against manipulation in fitness and demanding values alignment. Our combined voices can inspire creatives, support ethical brands and shape an ecosystem true to its origins. A thriving culture focused on health starts with integrity.