USC alumnus creates odor-repelling athletic wear

California is teeming with fitness enthusiasts. With the opportunity to hit the beach every day of the year, keeping toned is a top priority in the Golden State. For Sam Mazumdar, a 2010 Marshall School of Business graduate, what he wears when he exercises is as important as the workout itself. That’s why he invented SilverAir, a product that puts a spin on traditional athletic apparel by infusing odor-repellant silver into the product.

Sterling idea · Waiz Rahim (right) and Sam Mazumdar (left) are currently selling a line of clothing infused with silver in order to repel natural body odors. Their products are currently available online. – Photo courtesy of Sam Mazumdar

“When I try to describe Y Athletics to someone, I tell them that if Apple were to design clothes and open a retail store, it would be Y Atheltics,” Mazumdar said.

Y Athletics has succeeded at emulating the more well-known corporation. Like Apple Inc., products the little details in Mazumdar’s product seems to be lifted straight from Steve Jobs’ distinct vision. The shirts currently come in four colors: jet grey, surf blue, salmon red and shamrock green. But aesthetics aren’t the only quality that sets Y Athletics apart from the rest. The actual manufacturing is what makes it groundbreaking.

For one, as the name suggests, SilverAir utilizes silver to repel body odors.

“When you sweat, your sweat has a lot of proteins in certain areas. Those proteins give birth to bacteria that have odor. Your body absorbs the bacteria that does not have odor and is left with the bacteria that has odor. When you sweat, that bacteria gets retained in your shirt itself. When moisture reacts with silver, it gives off diversions that infiltrate the membranes of the odor-causing bacteria and break them down so they cannot grow anymore. This is why you have a shirt that doesn’t smell after a few hours,” Mazumdar said.

Besides the unique inclusion of silver, the breathable fabrics are created from yarn that’s imported from Italy.

“We use a very high-tech technology called seamless knitting — the yarns are knitted directly into the shirt. On the side of the shirt, there is no stitching. It is all just one piece,” Mazumdar said.

To fund his project, Mazumdar harnessed the power of social media and the online community. He quit his previous, full-time job in July to invest his heart and soul into Y Athletics and launched a Kickstarter campaign on Oct. 28. In just a couple of weeks, the project gained 2,696 backers and garnered $167,881 in funds. Backers can purchase the product for $34 a pop (a $20 reduction from the retail price). When asked about the reason for the markdown, Mazumdar explained that his financial model reflects the strategy of the online retailer Amazon.

“We took hints from Amazon in terms of growth. They run on a thin profit margin,” Mazumdar said. “We want to grow as a company and profits aren’t important to us right now. We want people to experience this product and this brand.”

But the Kickstarter campaign couldn’t have been possible without the help of another Trojan. Mazumdar brought Waiz Rahim, a sophomore majoring in industrial and systems engineering, on board to help him create the promotional material and video used to showcase the product to potential investors. Rahim quickly became invested in more than just the promotional video.

“The entire start up experience was very exciting — it’s something I’m very passionate about,” Rahim said.

Rahim might have only been with Y Athletics for the past three months, but his connection to Mazumdar has much deeper roots.

“He is more like a brother to me,” Mazumdar said.

Mazumdar and Rahim are family friends. Rahim and Mazumdar’s sisters are best friends. Mazumdar is also Rahim’s best friend’s cousin — and their family friend’s fiance.

Regardless of the complexity of the connection, it’s clear that the duo have a brotherly affinity for one another. This friendship gives Y Athletics a greater sense of heart — something that’s much-needed in small businesses.

Looking to the future, Rahim and Mazumdar plan to focus their efforts on outreach and publicity to help their fundraising efforts. They hope to expand their line of apparel, which is currently limited to menswear, to include a women’s line as well.

“Mom and Dad still don’t know about this project,” Rahim said, laughing.

At the speed that this project is taking off, it’s clear they’ll be finding out very soon.