Kyle Blakely leads innovation, development, and testing at Under Armour, a global leader in athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. In this role, he oversees the company’s global innovation efforts to design, test, and deliver new product ideas that enhance athlete performance while advancing performance-driven sustainability.
A materials expert with nearly 16 years of industry experience, Kyle is listed as an inventor on 45 patents, with more than a dozen additional patents pending. He joined Under Armour in 2008 as a materials developer and has since held a range of leadership roles across the business. Today, he leads a multidisciplinary team of materials scientists, developers, biomechanical researchers, data analysts, wear-testers, designers, and production artists, and oversees Under Armour’s state-of-the-art innovation lab at its Baltimore headquarters.
Under Kyle’s leadership, Under Armour has developed numerous industry-leading technologies, including ColdGear Infrared, CoolSwitch, Iso-Chill, and CLONE footwear technology, as well as NEOLAST, a high-performing spandex alternative designed with sustainability in mind. His teams have also pioneered the brand’s award-winning fiber-shed test method and a wide range of advanced fabric constructions, from breathable waterproof membranes to insulation systems.
Kyle is deeply committed to Under Armour’s core value to “Act Sustainably.” He has co-written and been featured in GreenBiz articles, serves as executive sponsor of the Green Machine teammate resource group, and sits on the Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management Industry Advisory Board at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Textile Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship from NC State.