Football icon Harry Kane is expanding his sporting interests by becoming the lead investor in upstart golf apparel brand Reflo’s first seed funding round.
The investment cements a deepening relationship between the England national team captain and the sustainability-focused golfwear startup.
Summary
- Harry Kane has become the lead investor in sustainable golf apparel brand Reflo’s first seed funding round
- Kane was initially drawn to Reflo’s commitment to sustainability and will now be an official brand ambassador
- The funding round raised around £1 million to support Reflo’s production, sourcing, and sustainability initiatives
- Kane first wore Reflo while playing golf last summer and has continued to use their products behind the scenes
- As part of the partnership, Reflo pledges to plant 500 trees for every goal Kane scores this season
Reflo announced this week that its funding round secured approximately £1 million from athletes, investors, and other backers. Kane, 30, emerged as the round’s lead investor as he embraces the brand’s ambitions to become the world’s most sustainable athletic apparel company.
As a lifelong scratch golfer, Kane was first introduced to Reflo gear while competing in The Icons Series exhibition tournament in summer 2022. He continued wearing the company’s shirts, pants and other products behind the scenes over the past year and has now formalized the partnership by taking an ownership stake.
Going forward, the FC Bayern Munich striker will have an even more visible presence as a Reflo brand ambassador. He’ll sport the latest Reflo looks while playing in pro-ams, exhibitions and casual rounds as he trains his sharp short game.
Kane was compelled to invest in Reflo based on aligned values around environmental sustainability. The company utilizes recycled plastics and food waste to manufacture high-performance athletic wear that still meets Kane’s exacting standards.
“I want to invest in a company and brand that connects with my own values around a more sustainable future,” Kane explained. “Making sure golf performance and sustainability can coexist makes me very excited.”
He expressed confidence that Reflo can disrupt the status quo thanks to what he’s learned about the young brand’s ambitious plans.
Warming up for the @refloofficial partnership launch party with a trick shot. Didn't know I had this in the locker!
Thanks for the challenge @carters_golf golf.
Original trick shot by Holein1Trickshot/IG#TeamReflo pic.twitter.com/mdvJAYmN5f
— Harry Kane (@HKane) January 31, 2024
“Pushing boundaries and setting new standards is so important, and that’s exactly what [Reflo] have shown me,” noted Kane. “The vision for the brand is incredible.”
Reflo co-founder Rory Macfadyen said Kane’s support will supercharge the company’s aspirations. The funding haul will drive fabric sourcing, staffing, factory selection and other key business areas. Proceeds also further Reflo’s forest conservation efforts, having already funded over 42,000 trees along with recycling the plastic equivalent of 500,000 bottles.
As part of its new pact with one of football’s most lethal strikers, Reflo is also raising the stakes on its sustainability commitments. The brand has pledged to plant 500 additional trees for every goal scored by Kane during the entire 2023-2024 season across all competitions.
With Kane still in his prime at 30 years old, Reflo’s reforestation tab could escalate quickly if the marksman continues finding the back of the net at his usually prolific clip.
It’s a creative way to merge Kane’s fame with Reflo’s eco-minded mission — one that allows the striker to drive positive climate impact through his excellence in sport. The partnership sets out to prove, as Kane suggested, that sustainability and elite performance can thrive together in harmony.
