Garden hose prototype to billion-dollar brand: On signs Mbappé

A piece of garden hose may seem like an unlikely starting point for a global sportswear company, but that is where the story of Swiss footwear brand On began. In 2010, retired professional athlete Olivier Bernhard was experimenting with ways to create a running shoe that could deliver a different sensation underfoot. One of his early prototypes used pieces of garden hose glued to the outsole. The unusual experiment eventually became the foundation for the technology that helped define On's shoes and, with it, a company that has grown into a multibillion-dollar sportswear business.Sixteen years later, On has expanded far beyond its original running focus.