We're always pleased to hear from our customers. Everyone has individual reasons for loving DannyShane gear. Jon, our customer below, loves it for several reasons-one being crash and rash resistance!
I'm going to place an order but wanted to let you know that both my son and I have found your gear to be of impeccable quality, classic design (style works over time), and surprisingly durable. Colt's a college student, on a budget and a 'live simply' devotee; in other words he has a limited budget and wardrobe. He has worn the Danny polo A LOT including during a recent trip to Europe. I wear mine to work at Boise State and when I ride. A local bike shop employee stopped by our table at Chipotle the other day to ask where I got the shirt. My enthusiastic response prompted my wife to say afterwards, “You should tell those guys what your think of their product…and probably be their rep”. Not sure about the rep idea. I'd be interested to discuss how I can help, but I wanted to at least write this note.
Here's an example: Yesterday morning I was with my buddy doing one of our favorite mountain bike loops when I misjudged a sandy downhill turn and went over the bars, fortunately able to tuck and land on my right shoulder. My Danny Shane polo took the brunt of the impact and ensuing downhill slide to a stop in sandy/gravel. I should have taken a photo of it, but both my wife and I thought for sure we'd see a hole in it once the dirt got washed out. Unbelievably, it doesn't even have abrasion marks. I'm 59 and have hit the deck often enough to have ruined plenty of jerseys (and had a shoulder repair surgery), so when I say it is unbelievable that the polo isn't damaged it comes with some data points to back it up. Great gear!
I'll get my order in for Colter, and we both send our thanks. (By the way, he's a Material Science Engineering senior at the University of Utah so he's very impressed with the white ash fabric from a science point of view as well).
Warm regards,
Jon G.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
The Heart of DannyShane, Part I
As part of a new, ongoing series, we hope to feature some stories and people that speak to the spirit of the DannyShane brand. This month, we have decided to kick off this project with our own founder and CEO, Shane Hunt. We would absolutely welcome your stories of unique adventures on the bike.
Tell us how DannyShane got started.
Shane Hunt: Cycling is a beautiful sport with beautiful hardware. I understood that mindset as a cyclist myself but everyone was wearing the same stuff, either Nascar-looking or boring gear. The gear didn’t connect with the beautiful, performance bikes I saw. I wanted sophisticated and style-forward gear. I thought to myself “I have the design skillset. I am the target customer. I love the mental and physical benefits of cycling.” So, I made a few designs. Others liked them. I saw interest. Mark Killeen, now CEO of Full-Turn Direct, told me to use these new fabrics he was starting to see. He told me he loved the design strategy but that there was no sustainable natural fiber in the cycling world. I started to work with embedded bamboo charcoal. These are fibers used in golf clothing. Golf clothing uses the latest technology, is lightweight, and offers incredible performance. Bamboo allows the fabric to breathe like cotton, rapidly wick moisture, provides ultra- soft comfort, and is anti-static along with being sustainable. These performance characteristics are in the weave and never wash out. So, I had it right there... a 1-2 punch, an innovative fabric and bold, innovative sets of designs; DannyShane was born. That was 2009.
Your designs are unique and distinctive. Where do you find inspiration?
Shane Hunt: I don’t have a design degree. I am not a Manhattan-based designer, but I knew I wanted to create enduring, classic styles to last long beyond fads... not loud, modern abstract, or replicated retros. The core culture of the DannyShane brand is "Modern Classic," futuristic, beautiful, classic, enduring with a little edge. There are elements of danger, beauty, and spirituality in cycling. As I've traveled to 11 countries in the last 24 months, I've kept my eyes wide open for designs that represent those elements and bring that spirit to the fore.
A lot of people connect with DannyShane styles, though the brand is certainly not for everyone. What I like is that people can’t be indifferent to DannyShane. Some people love it, can’t get enough of it, and it is part of their lifestyle. Others say, “I can’t wear that. It’s cool, but not for me.” You can’t be everything to everyone. And, our group of devotees is growing because our designs are truly unique. Take our plaid designs, for example. Plaid has been around for centuries. It is not a look that will come and go, but our take on it is really distinct... and different from what you'd expect to see on the back of a cyclist.
Tell us how DannyShane got started.
Your designs are unique and distinctive. Where do you find inspiration?
Shane Hunt: I don’t have a design degree. I am not a Manhattan-based designer, but I knew I wanted to create enduring, classic styles to last long beyond fads... not loud, modern abstract, or replicated retros. The core culture of the DannyShane brand is "Modern Classic," futuristic, beautiful, classic, enduring with a little edge. There are elements of danger, beauty, and spirituality in cycling. As I've traveled to 11 countries in the last 24 months, I've kept my eyes wide open for designs that represent those elements and bring that spirit to the fore.
A lot of people connect with DannyShane styles, though the brand is certainly not for everyone. What I like is that people can’t be indifferent to DannyShane. Some people love it, can’t get enough of it, and it is part of their lifestyle. Others say, “I can’t wear that. It’s cool, but not for me.” You can’t be everything to everyone. And, our group of devotees is growing because our designs are truly unique. Take our plaid designs, for example. Plaid has been around for centuries. It is not a look that will come and go, but our take on it is really distinct... and different from what you'd expect to see on the back of a cyclist.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Reader Response to "Heart of DannyShane"
We were thrilled to receive this response to our recent profile of DannyShane founder, Shane Hunt.
I enjoyed reading the first article of The Heart of Danny Shane. It was spot on about my reaction to the first time I saw a DS kit - retro but not, classy, timeless, unique, stylish, tasteful, bold but subtle, colorful but subdued. I recently saw a DS jersey on a cycling gear website and it struck me as so attractive that I decided I had to finally hunt down a kit. I eventually went to your website and found exactly what I wanted - the Blue Performance jersey and matching bibs. I splurged and bought two full kits because I knew I'd be wearing them often!
I wore my kit for the first time 2 weeks ago on our weekend ride with about 25 riders, we've been riding together for about 14 years. Needless to say Shane's observation of cycling clothing was quite accurate - the group's clothes ranged from a local bike shop's full kit replete with a dozen brands plastered all over (though it's fairly nice looking) to at least one rider whose ensemble (I use that term loosely!) was a mishmash of brands and colors that was striking in its harlequinesqe look.
I felt as if I was wearing black tie and tails to a Halloween costume party! In spite of differences in fashion tastes, everyone in the group is really nice and always willing to help out if you get into a spot of bother.
Not to belabor you with a long story, I'll share two reactions with you. As I got out of my car to get my bike ready, the woman in the car next to me stepped out of her car and when she turned to me to say hi, she let out this expressive "WOW" , then "I really love your kit, it's awesome!" Of course I had to tell her all about it - the brand, the plaid design background and a bit about the fabric. I think I may have made a convert out of her...
Then, after the ride I stopped at my local bike shop to have my bike serviced. As soon as I walked in the door, the owner and one of the shop guys had the same reaction - " that's a really nice looking outfit! I like that!" "Who makes it? Where'd you get it?!" "That's quality fabric I can tell just by looking at it!" As before I gave them the whole rundown on DS, the fabric, the styles, and how much I loved everything about it now that I'd finally ridden in it (though I did spend a fair amount of time admiring it in my mirror after I first got it). I was hoping the owner might decide to carry some of the DS line.....
Well that's it. I've ridden in my DS kit a couple more times and it's proven to be perfect for hot days (mid 80's) and for long stints in the saddle (4-5 hours, 60 miles). I'm ready to get another couple kits, I'm really partial to the Huntley jersey and bibs, I love to have the jersey look echoed on the bibs. I'd say about 70% of the folks who've commented have been favorable and the rest haven't quite gotten it, but that's ok. The only thing that counts is that I love wearing it, I feel unique in the group, and it makes a statement that I may not be the strongest rider in the group but darned if I'm not the best looking. I like to say (about myself): "if you can't be good, you can look good!"
Thanks again for sharing the Heart of DS, and to DS for creating a perfect cycling look.
I enjoyed reading the first article of The Heart of Danny Shane. It was spot on about my reaction to the first time I saw a DS kit - retro but not, classy, timeless, unique, stylish, tasteful, bold but subtle, colorful but subdued. I recently saw a DS jersey on a cycling gear website and it struck me as so attractive that I decided I had to finally hunt down a kit. I eventually went to your website and found exactly what I wanted - the Blue Performance jersey and matching bibs. I splurged and bought two full kits because I knew I'd be wearing them often!
I wore my kit for the first time 2 weeks ago on our weekend ride with about 25 riders, we've been riding together for about 14 years. Needless to say Shane's observation of cycling clothing was quite accurate - the group's clothes ranged from a local bike shop's full kit replete with a dozen brands plastered all over (though it's fairly nice looking) to at least one rider whose ensemble (I use that term loosely!) was a mishmash of brands and colors that was striking in its harlequinesqe look.
I felt as if I was wearing black tie and tails to a Halloween costume party! In spite of differences in fashion tastes, everyone in the group is really nice and always willing to help out if you get into a spot of bother.
Not to belabor you with a long story, I'll share two reactions with you. As I got out of my car to get my bike ready, the woman in the car next to me stepped out of her car and when she turned to me to say hi, she let out this expressive "WOW" , then "I really love your kit, it's awesome!" Of course I had to tell her all about it - the brand, the plaid design background and a bit about the fabric. I think I may have made a convert out of her...
Then, after the ride I stopped at my local bike shop to have my bike serviced. As soon as I walked in the door, the owner and one of the shop guys had the same reaction - " that's a really nice looking outfit! I like that!" "Who makes it? Where'd you get it?!" "That's quality fabric I can tell just by looking at it!" As before I gave them the whole rundown on DS, the fabric, the styles, and how much I loved everything about it now that I'd finally ridden in it (though I did spend a fair amount of time admiring it in my mirror after I first got it). I was hoping the owner might decide to carry some of the DS line.....
Well that's it. I've ridden in my DS kit a couple more times and it's proven to be perfect for hot days (mid 80's) and for long stints in the saddle (4-5 hours, 60 miles). I'm ready to get another couple kits, I'm really partial to the Huntley jersey and bibs, I love to have the jersey look echoed on the bibs. I'd say about 70% of the folks who've commented have been favorable and the rest haven't quite gotten it, but that's ok. The only thing that counts is that I love wearing it, I feel unique in the group, and it makes a statement that I may not be the strongest rider in the group but darned if I'm not the best looking. I like to say (about myself): "if you can't be good, you can look good!"
Thanks again for sharing the Heart of DS, and to DS for creating a perfect cycling look.
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