First AC33 sponsorship

K-Challenge announces backing from a French clothing group

K-Challenge will welcome a new sponsor for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series: Pataugas. The French team will now be called Pataugas by K-Challenge.

“The partnership with K-Challenge comes in a perfect timing for Pataugas’ development," says Sylvie Bondil, Pataugas’ General Manager. "This French brand was created in 1950, and was launched again in 2002 by Artistic Director Philippe Morvan and I, with the support of M. Georges Plassat, CEO of the Vivarte group. Since then, the new management team has been eager to show that it is possible to get its number one position back on the market by having a creative and ethical approach."

Pataugas is a fashion leading group and owns some famous brands like Kookai, Naf Naf, Chevignon, Caroll. The group has 25000 employees and 4000 dealers, and a turnover of 3 billion Euros. 25% of its turnover comes from abroad

Bondil contines: “Sustainable development is for us a conviction since the very beginning, long before it became a social phenomenon (natural raw materials, production in Europe, work conditions for our suppliers, energy savings…). We are an 'outdoor' brand that we made “urban” while keeping its natural origins, and the link with sailing came logically as it is a pure sport bound with nature.

"By becoming a sponsor of the French team in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, we associate our brand with the prestigious world of the America’s Cup, in order to develop our brand awareness and our image in France and at international level, which is our next target. Last but not least, we share the same values with K-Challenge, a human sized and ambitious company. We fight everyday with our own means to gain distance on the race course and to take our place amongst the leaders.”

K-Challenge is now training with other teams on the race course of the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, before the team flies to New Zealand.

Stephane Kandler, K-Challenge’s CEO: “We are very happy to welcome Pataugas in the team, as it is a French genuine brand. Like K-Challenge, they want to conquer the world by betting on strong values, with creativity and without fear.

"We will sail against the best sailing teams in the world, which will also be the future favorites for the 33rd America’s Cup that we joined as official challenger too. This competition will be the opportunity for our crew, mixing new and experienced generations, to show that with equal footings France can compete with the best. We also want to convince future sponsors of our team’s sponsorship strengths.”.