Under Armour Taps John Varvatos as Chief Design Officer

Under Armour has named fashion industry veteran John Varvatos its new Chief Design Officer, effective Sept. 11, 2023. He’ll lead the creative design direction of the company and oversee the design studios in New York, Baltimore and Portland, Ore.

After consulting for the company in early 2023, Varvatos is coming on full-time to “work in partnership with our product team to bring apparel, footwear and accessories from concept to commercialization, blending performance and style,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Under Armour President and CEO in a statement.

Varvatos’ 30-year career working for brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Converse and his namesake brand, John Varvatos, will do more than level up Under Armour’s position in the hyper-competitive athleisure market; his product innovation could be a boon for the brand. For example, Varvatos created both the boxer brief at Calvin Klein and the laceless sneaker for Converse.

“I am so excited to join Under Armour, an iconic American brand,” Varvatos shared in a statement. “The innovation, design and mission of the brand has never been more relevant as consumers demand clothes that function for both sport and everyday activities.”