Behind the Seams: A Fresh Look for Y Gymnastics
July 08 2025 – YMCA Gear
East Gymnastics leads a bold new merch movement
Back in August 2024, East Gymnastics, part of the Y NSW family, reached out with a clear goal: to modernise their apparel and create stylish, on-trend pieces that young gymnasts would be proud to wear - both in and out of the gym. Led by Senior Coach and Merchandise Lead Joanne Power and Business Manager Robyn Simpson, the Y Gear team worked closely with East Gymnastics to bring this vision to life. With the Gymnastics business located in the affluent Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, their market demands quality and comfort and style, so this was a must to consider.
The brief? Create something that could stand confidently alongside popular retail brands while still feeling distinctly East Gymnastics. After several design rounds, testing, and production tweaks, the result was a standout range, combining style, comfort and identity in one. The hero piece: a premium oversized hoodie that blends modern style with all-day comfort, perfect for both training and downtime.
"We wanted more than just new clothing, we wanted a shared identity,” said Joanne. “This range helps build a sense of community and pride. It’s something our gymnasts feel connected to.”
Once launched, the impact was immediate. All five other Y Gymnastics sites across NSW came on board, offering the range to their own communities. The look was rolled out across six sites, reaching more than 5,000 young gymnasts, just in time for Christmas.
"We want to partner with businesses and organisations in our community to create more access points for our young people to connect with us and engage in healthy, active and social activities,” added Robyn.
“Partnering with Y Services makes perfect sense as they are the only social enterprise uniform/merchandise provider who invest all surpluses back into community programs.”
As the Y Gear team continues working with East Gymnastics on an exciting new activewear line for Spring/Summer, we’re proud to support programs like this - where great design meets real impact.
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