NORTH SAILS OPENS US FLAGSHIP SPORTSWEAR STORE IN NEWPORT
North Sails Collection, renowned for its lifestyle clothing and sailing crew collections in Europe has opened a new US flagship sportswear store in Newport, RI .The new store location is significant, placing it in the heart of the North Sails global headquarters and the hub of East Coast sailing. To celebrate the opening of the Flagship store, located on Bannister's Wharf in downtown Newport, North Sails invited the local sailing community to see the collection, meet the local team, and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres provided by the Clarke Cooke House. North Technology Group CEO Tom Whidden attended the grand opening to sign copies of his recent book, The Art & Science Of Sails. Featuring both the men's and women's lifestyle lines of the brand, the store reflects the spirit of exploration and the most playful aspect of sailing, as well as emphasizing the performance function of North Sails products. Newport is an ideal setting to display the North Sails Collection mood, reflecting the two spirited factions of the sailing world: those of recreational and competitive mindsets. A mix of light and high performing styles come in a range of typical sailing colors - red, white, blue and yellow - while ocean blues, coral, orange and lagoon greens also add seasonality and high summer focus.
North Sails continues to create sustainable designs throughout the collection: jackets, T-shirts, and swimwear made from recycled materials are enriched with shark imagery and graphics with the aim of raising awareness of conservation efforts. While NSX-Performance styles perfectly merge technical fabrics and details with style and comfort for everyday challenges. The new Newport store also offers the North Sails Crew Collection, the most technical part of the collection intended for sailors and sea lovers. A line of high-performance products with proven cuts, tailored fits, and innovative materials. All the garments can be customized with team names and logos to make them unique. The store is located in historic Bannister's Wharf, the iconic waterfront area of Newport, a city with a rich sailing connection and sporting heritage. The store will cater to the diverse and active community of sailors in the region who are regularly racing and cruising in the waters off Rhode Island, and tap into the busy schedule of world-class sailing events hosted in Newport.
Thanks to a specially developed design concept, the store was planned down to the last detail to highlight each individual item of clothing: the shop windows immediately capture the attention of the consumer who is led into the North Sails world through bright environments and sleek, light lines outlining an architectural style in perfect harmony with the brand image. The fittings consist of steel structures while the original wood roof and floor — without any plastic materials used in the construction — reflects the mission of North Sails to educate consumers to embrace the change and protect the seas from plastic pollution, season after season. Visit North Sails and shop the collection at 16 Bannister's Wharf, Newport, RI, 02840. Contact number : 401-324-5750
LATEST NORTH SAILS NEWS
12 October
STATEMENT ON LEGAL ACTION WITH EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND
October 12, 2026
In light of inaccurate statements made by Emirates Team New Zealand, North Sails feels compelled to address the recent legal proceedings it has been forced to initiate in response to Emirates Team New Zealand’s repeated and unjustified threats of patent infringement proceedings.
Emirates Team New Zealand misappropriated North Sails’ intellectual property to obtain a patent over sail technology that it is now threatening to enforce against its America’s Cup competitors, to the detriment of fair competition. North Sails has long sought to resolve the dispute amicably, but Emirates Team New Zealand has made clear that North Sails, as the exclusive supplier to those teams, is being targeted as a means to achieve its objectives.
North Sails is deeply disappointed that Emirates Team New Zealand has undermined the longstanding relationship of trust that has allowed North Sails to share its technology and expertise for the benefit of the sport. While North Sails has made every effort to avoid unnecessary legal escalation, it has ultimately been left with no choice but to take action to protect its intellectual property and its America’s Cup customers.
North Sails will make no further comment on the Emirates New Zealand arbitration process given the confidentiality of those proceedings.
We firmly believe the patent is invalid and are confident that our legal challenges will vindicate our position and prevent Emirates Team New Zealand from attempting to use the invalid patent to disrupt fair competition in the America’s Cup. To date, Emirates Team New Zealand has not addressed the substantive challenges to the patent’s validity, choosing instead to focus on procedural and jurisdictional arguments. We look forward to our challenges being addressed on their merits.
North Sails is the exclusive sail supplier to every team competing in the 38th America’s Cup and has proudly supported every America’s Cup defender and challenger since 1980.
