Brad Weisman created the clothing company Shwalla after realizing his existing athletic clothing was not keeping him warm enough during winter training. He researched fabrics used by Olympic athletes and found a factory to produce garments using the same Swiss fabrics. Weisman developed a line of three temperature-specific outfits for 20, 40, and 60 degree weather. The breathable and stretchy fabrics have proven popular for athletes in a variety of sports and temperatures. Weisman hopes to partner with larger apparel companies to expand distribution of Shwalla's innovative fabrics.

1. W i n d y C i t y S p o r t s • J u n e 2 0 0 418
Discover ShwallaBrad Weisman had hit a wall in his winter
training. As the weather got colder, training out-
side became more and more of a chore. His cloth-
ing didn’t help. “I was doing a lot of running, a lot
of biking in the cold,” he says, “but I didn’t think
the apparel I was purchasing was doing the job.”
While sitting at home one day watching the
luge event at the 2002 Winter Olympics, inspiration
hit him. Even after hurtling down the track inches
from the ice, the riders didn’t seem cold. “I had to
know what this stuff was made out of,” he said.
The idea behind Shwalla was created.
Weisman is a Northbrook native with a bach-
elor’s degree from Ohio State, an MBA from the
Lake Forest Business School and a year-round
passion for staying in shape. A line of tempera-
ture-specific apparel would be great, he realized,
for athletes training in adverse conditions.
He researched the fabrics used by Olympic
athletes and found a factory in Columbus, Ohio,
willing to construct some garments from the
Swiss Schoeller fabrics that they wore. He
approached former Olympic speed-skater and
Northbrook native David Cruikshank to talk about
his idea. “The rest,” he says, “is kinda history.”
He spent some time working at Active
Endeavors in Evanston, learning about the ath-
letic apparel business and finding out what cus-
tomers were interested in. While taking classes at
the business school, he formed a business plan
and started visiting area expos and trade shows.
He attended a session with “Hap” Klopp, founder
of The North Face, at one show and sent him an
e-mail describing his proposal. Klopp thought it
was a unique idea and ultimately made a small
investment and also offers Weisman his time and
advice.
Weisman has raised all of the capital to start
his company on his own, thanks to a father who
encouraged him to build his business by his own
“sweat and blood.”
He decided on three outfits for the line, one
each for 20-, 40- and 60-degree weather. The tops
and pants are high-end hybrid garments,
designed to be durable and comfortable for any
activity. Breathable panels in the fabric provide
ventilation. Weisman created the name Shwalla
to describe the clothing line. He says it describes
the spirit that invades the soul when you’re no
longer able to feel fatigue. He says the clothes
have been successful at least partially because
they are so versatile. Runners and bikers aren’t
the only athletes who have shown interest.
“Athletes are using it for things you would
never imagine,” he says. He knows some skiers
who use the 20-degree piece for its warmth and
its anti-abrasive material that sets it apart from
your typical outfit. He even uses the clothes
when golfing, as the material stretches and
bends for comfortable movement.
In the short term, Weisman is readying a
clothing line for the fall and winter seasons and
making gear available on his website (www.shwal-
la.com). Beyond this year,
he hopes his gear will
receive notice from larger
apparel companies.
“I’d like our product to
be in a position where larg-
er companies look to us
for innovation,” he
says.—Jeff Lee
With his new 20-degree top
in hand, Brad Weisman
models the 40-degree top
and pant.
G Women made up 40 percent of the total
marathon finishers in 2003, the same figure
as in 2002, according to USA Track & Field.
Finding Your Sole Mate
With all you can do in sports sandals
these days (see our review at right), there’s a
lot more to the fit than simple sizing. Tony
Post, president and CEO of Vibram USA, the
high-performance sole outfitter that created
the first rubber lugged sole in the 1930s, gave
us a few pointers on what you should look for
in a sandal.
Look for a secure,
strong and com-
fortable founda-
tion. Sandals
should provide a
strong platform
with medial arch
support and cupping in the heel area, which
provides a solid foundation and secure fit. The
upper part of the sandal should also be secure-
ly attached to the platform. Check the surface
of the footbed to make sure it won’t irritate
your skin or rub. Be aware of any hotspots.
Find the appropriate outsole for your
needs. Take a look at the outsole of the san-
dal and make sure it fits the bill for the activi-
ties you want to participate in with your new
sandals. If you are hoping to do some light
hiking or trekking in them, you want a nicely
cleated outsole with good traction. If you’ll be
wearing them in the water, make sure the rub-
ber will become stickier or tackier in the water.
Look for an outsole that dissi-
pates water and pushes
water out from places where
your foot hits the ground.
Make sure you can walk
in them. No matter where
you’ll be in them, you want
your sandals to be easy to walk in. They
should have a little bit of toe spring and heel
scarf. Since your foot isn’t completely secured
to it like a shoe, having a slightly exaggerated
rocker platform makes it much more comfort-
able for walking.
Keen’s Yogui sandal features a grippy Vibram sole.
And the Winners Are…
The winners of our Penguin contest are in.
Melissa Kozerski has been crowned Queen Penguin
with her winning, “You might be a penguin if you are
used as an example among others: ‘Hey, if
__________ can do it, so can you!’” The Queen will
receive free entry into the Chicago Distance Classic
and Chicago Endurance Sports’ training program
among other goodies.
Other top honors went to the following four pen-
guins who will also receive free race entry and much
more for finishing the sentence “You might be a
penguin if…”
…you start out slow and taper off. —Doug Doolittle
…the clean up crew is offering you a ride to the fin-
ish line. —Noreen St. Lawrence
…you seek out the “cute” water station volunteer
and order a second round, and a third. In fact,
drinks all around; they’re on me. Hey, anybody got
a pen? —Chris Boyer
…they pull up the finishing mat before you get
there. —Sue Morgan
FernandoPantoja
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