Teamm8 pays tribute to the 2012 Olympic games with it’s new Nations collection of swim and underwear. Produced in striking colors that match the flags of some of the leading countries going for gold – including Canada, Australia and Great Britain – Nations takes the spirit of the summer games into the locker and bedrooms of everyday champions.

"We first introduced Nations in 2008 as an underwear to celebrate the Olympic games in Beijing," explains Michal Nicolas, teamm8’s founder and head designer.  "For 2012, we’ve added swimwear.  The entire range has become a staple of our brand and is now an important part of our story."

That story began in the living room of Nicolas’ home where with a simple website and two styles of underwear, he launched one of the fastest growing athletic wear collections on the market today. In addition to undies, teamm8 competes in swim, tees and fitness wear.  They consistently come out on top by simply putting "play" back in the game.  Michael Nicolas explains.

GC: Most men call the brand "Team 8", but isn’t the correct pronunciation Team Mate?

MN: A lot of people get confused but the name is in fact ‘team mate’, as in a fellow member of a team. In Australia, mate is the iconic word used to describe a male buddy or a friend.  Everybody here uses it, even when addressing people they just met. I abbreviated it to ‘m8’.  To me, the name embodied everything about the brand: Australian, the sporting values, the masculinity and the unity.

GC: What is the ideology of the brand?

MN: We are for everyday champions; for active achievers who tackle life head on.  I always say, ‘at teamm8, you are the star player and we are your support team’.

GC: Is it true you started from your living room?

MN: I did! I launched with a website and two styles of underwear, that’s it. That was in 2008 and back then I operated and managed every facet singlehandedly.  The brand grew almost instantaneously and over the next few years, I introduced more underwear styles and then a basic swim line.

GC: Now you have sweats and tees too.

MN: I was hesitant to go into sportswear because I thought it was an overcrowded market but I was floored by the reaction of our first athletic wear collection. We learned guys wanted stylish fitness wear that didn’t make them look like they were going to a club or running a marathon.

GC: What separates teamm8 from its competitors?  

MN: Quality and style.  Our athletic wear is great for the gym, a lunch date, or for just hanging around in all day.

GC: Is there an advantage to being a smaller company?  

MN: Boutique brands enjoy the luxury of dancing to the beat of their own drum. Decisions are made and acted on quickly.  We’re not dragged down by corporate influences and strategies.

GC: How would describe the 2012 collection?

MN: Our best yet. This collection remains true to our core design values yet with a little more fun and excitement, especially in the athletic and swimwear.

GC: The athletic collection has a slimmer cut than most gear out there.

MN: A slimmer cut is more flattering on most guys. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of skin tight fits.  There are very few guys who can or should wear them.  But at the same time, I don’t think drowning in your clothes is flattering either.

GC: What has been the response to teamm8’s Super Low Rise briefs?
MN: They’re one of our best sellers.  They are so low!

GC: Many of teamm8’s briefs tend to be low.

MN: We do keep a low rise to all our briefs, but they’re not all so ridiculously low. Comfort is our number one design rule and if the rise is too low, we find the brief is not comfortable to wear all day.  But with the success of the Super Low Rise collection, there’s no denying some guys like low.

GC: What are some of the other best sellers?  

MN: We introduced the Star Player brief in 2009 and it was an instant hit. We couldn’t keep up with demand!  We had football players battling for it.  This season, the pink Star Player brief is our best seller.

GC: Does teamm8 thrive on competition?

MN: We take big risks at teamm8, but that was how I founded the label, taking a huge risk. That and extremely hard work and dedication. But I believe you achieve nothing without playing life that way, and that’s exactly how we approach everything here at teamm8. You work hard, you enjoy the benefits.