Phiten Hits Sports Technology Out of the Park

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Phiten^®, the pioneer of AQUA-METAL™ materials and innovator of metal-infused sports technology, is celebrating 15 years of business in the U.S. and more than $100 million in sales of health and wellness products in North America. The company has also launched a first-time partnership with Be The Match, a nonprofit which helps patients with blood cancers receive life-saving bone marrow and umbilical cord blood transplants.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131217/LA34319)

First brought to the U.S. in 1998 by Founder and President, Yoshihiro Hirata, Phiten was born from technology designed for patients of his chiropractic clinic in Japan. In 1983, after years of extensive research and development, Hirata established Phiten. Recognizing the growing popularity of sports technology, Phiten expanded to the U.S in 1998, its first market outside of Japan.

"The last 15 years has shown exceptional growth for Phiten," said Joe Furuhata, vice president of Phiten USA. "We have been able to do what we love to do—provide our customers with the very best in AQUA-METAL technology, work with some of the greatest athletes in the world, and support an active lifestyle for everyone who uses our products."

Known for the Phiten Tornado necklace worn by many players in Major League Baseball, Phiten exploded into the U.S market in 1998 and has since seen more than $100 million in sales with expansion to more than 30 countries. With hundreds of products including athletic tape, compression sleeves, body support, necklaces and bracelets, Phiten USA is focused on any sport where the professional, amateur or everyday athlete is looking for health and wellness. From motocross and surfing, to running, volleyball and kendo, Phiten is leading the way in providing new fans with advancements in precious-metal technologies.

"Looking back, we watched the Boston Red Sox break 'The Curse of the Bambino' wearing Phiten necklaces, signed a licensing agreement with MLB®, NBA® and the NHL®, providing our products to many of the top athletes in the world, and have given countless everyday athletes the technology they crave," added Furuhata. "Looking forward, we will continue to expand our product lines and market segments to meet the needs of athletes in all walks of life, and work with organizations like Be The Match to help make a difference in people's lives."

Phiten has embarked on its first national cause-related effort –Phiten Help Be The Match Eliminate Blood Cancer program—partnering with Be The Match to increase awareness of the national Be The Match Registry^® and to raise money to help ensure that every person who needs a bone marrow transplant receives one. The company has designed a limited edition Phiten x Be The Match Tornado Necklace with 25 percent of the net sales supporting the Be The Match mission.

The newly launched Phiten x Be The Match Tornado Necklace ($35 USD) is exclusively available at www.PhitenUSA.com/BeTheMatch. The dual-coiled necklace features the unique Be The Match colors. It is designed with an outer nylon fabric permeated with Phiten's AQUA-TITANIUM^® technology, which covers an elastomer compound core, and is held together by custom seam guards.

Phiten athletes and Be The Match Ambassadors of Hope, C.J. Wilson, Josh Hamilton and J.B. Shuck, have also joined the cause to support the program with their "Step Up to the Plate. Be a Hero" public service announcement.

To view the program's multimedia assets visit http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64376-phiten-and-mlb-players-for-be-the-match-bone-marrow-donor-registry.

For more information, please visit www.PhitenUSA.com. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

About Phiten
Phiten^® is the unprecedented forerunner and pioneer of AQUA-METAL™ materials and the advancement of metal-infused technology. Founded in 1983 in Kyoto, Japan, Phiten has been inspiring individuals to live and strive for a balanced lifestyle with groundbreaking technology and design applied to active apparel, support products, footwear and accessories. Holding more than 100 patents worldwide and with over 30 distributors across the globe, Phiten has established itself as a symbol of sports, health and wellness. Phiten is a licensed partner of the NBA^® and the NHL^®, and the Authentic Collection Licensed Partner of MLB^®, holding the rights as the Official Compression Sleeve of Major League Baseball^®. Phiten products are available at professional sports stadiums, sporting goods retailers, pharmacies and chiropractic clinics across the nation. For more information please visit www.PhitenUSA.com.

Media Contact:
Teri Morris
The Lavidge Company
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SOURCE Phiten