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No Sweat: Westchester Student Creates Business With Athleisure Shorts

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. -- Holiday time also means vacation time. Which means heading somewhere warm. And North Salem resident Ethan Rosen has just the item to take with you: His new "athleisure" shorts marketed under the name U Apparel.

North Salem resident Ethan Rosen wearing his U Apparel shorts.

North Salem resident Ethan Rosen wearing his U Apparel shorts.

Photo Credit: Submitted

The men's product, which can be worn on a run or to hang out with friends, is meant to make wearing shorts in extreme heat and humidity more manageable. The idea came about in June, 2016, when the college sophomore -- he's studying business at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. -- was in Taiwan studying Chinese. 

"With the insane heat and humidity, it was hard to go outside the apartment without becoming drenched in sweat," he said. 

"So, in an effort to make the heat and humidity more manageable, we decided to make our own shorts so we could enjoy everyday life without worrying about the sweat."

Aside from the performance aspect, the shorts are available in crazy colors/patterns. And, 10 percent of the proceeds go towards athletic teams of the Boys and Girls Club of D.C.

Rosen founded the company with friends Emmett Orts and Francesco Ambrosio. He is quick to note that U Apparel is not sweat free, but it is "way more resistant" than other day to day clothing. 

The three met with a variety of manufacturers in Taiwan and said they were lucky to find a company with vast athletic apparel experience, making it easy to finalize fabrics and designs quickly.

The shorts -- only available to men at the moment but with hopes of expanding into the women's market (Rosen is thinking yoga pants) -- are currently available for pre-order and will be shipping in early January (and in stock by late December). There is one version in three different patterns. 

"The shorts themselves have two front pockets, and a zipper pocket on the back for your keys when you go for a run," said Rosen. "They also have a lining, so there's no need for underwear."

As for why the three chose to partner with the Boys and Girls Club, Rosen said that's a no-brainer. "Two of us grew up going to Boys and Girls Clubs, so we understand how great the people are and know how much they affect the kid’s futures," he said. "The second reason is because of the way they affect the children of the club is how we want to affect our customers. 

"We want to give our customers the tools to define themselves and have bright futures just like they do for so many children everyday."

Go to www.udefineyourself.com or Facebook at @udefineyourself for more information.

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