HISTORY - The Robey brand was founded in 1947 by Rotterdam based entrepreneur Pieter Bey. Bey launched the brand from his own house before moving to the Oostzeedijk in Rotterdam in 1952. The origin of the Robey name is simple to clarify; Pieter Bey took the letters R and O from Rotterdam, and attached them to his own name.
As with many great companies, Robey had humble beginnings. Tennis shoes were made in a workshop in Riel and clothing was made in Bey's house in Rotterdam. A single bicycle courier delivered them to the then elite tennis clubs.
The sixties saw the birth of the puppy dog logo that still invokes nostalgia for the glory days of the brand. Alongside the dog, a four-leaf clover emblem was introduced in the seventies, because even the best sportsmen need a bit of luck!
It wasn't until the eighties that Robey's trademark character 'R' logo was evolved. Internally this 'R' was known as the R of 'Racket'. The introduction of the Robey-piping, consisting of four vertical lines, further strengthened the brand's visual identity.
1980 was the high point for the brand with everyone wearing Robey for football, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, athletics and swimming. During these highly successful years more than 500,000 tennis shorts were sold annually. Robey produced the Dutch national football team kit, making it the biggest name in football clothing throughout the '60's. Increasing its field of specialization to include a whole range of team sports, Robey went on to dominate the market in sports clothing and footwear over the next two decades. It's an incredible claim, but then it's hard to believe that the players of almost every team sport played at a national level wore a Robey kit. Later, individual sportsmen such as the tennis players Marcella Mesker and Mark Koevermans became figureheads for the brand.
The secret to Robey's success was simple; its reputation for quality with a personal touch. A glorious sports brand, Robey will always be an inimitable part of Holland's cultural heritage.
