Built for Athletes and Cardiff Met Sport Launch Exclusive Partnership

Cardiff Metropolitan University has partnered with premium fitness brand Built for Athletes to launch a bespoke, limited-edition backpack designed specifically for student-athletes. 

This collaboration brings together two organisations united by a commitment to high performance, innovation, and supporting the next generation of athletes. The maroon and gold bags, available with either an ArcHER or Archer patch, are now on sale exclusively to Cardiff Met students, staff and the wider Archer community, combining style and functionality with elite-level quality. 

The Archer identity holds deep roots in Welsh history, inspired by the legendary Welsh bowmen of the 14th century whose courage and skill were immortalised by Shakespeare at Agincourt. Today, the Archer has evolved into a symbol of Cardiff Met’s values: courage, skill, and hwyl (emotional energy and motivation), and represents every member of the community, from elite athletes to students who enjoy being active. The Archer is more than just a sporting identity; it’s a unifying spirit that embodies resilience, pride, and the pursuit of excellence across the University. 

For Built for Athletes, the partnership is not just about product innovation but about community. By working with Cardiff Met, the brand is helping to celebrate and strengthen the sense of belonging that comes with being an Archer, supporting athletes at every level and championing the culture of performance, collaboration and pride that defines the University. 

Dan Gomm, Assistant Director of Sport at Cardiff Met, said: “Aspiring to be Wales’ Sporting University, it’s important we work with partners who understand what it means to deliver high performance, on and off the field. Built For Athletes truly gets what it takes to meet the demands of elite athletes, as well as everyday student-athletes who still need a high-quality product. It’s exciting to see a bespoke Archers product sitting alongside such established names such as Borussia Dortmund football team, Hyrox, BWT Alpine Formula One Team and British Taekwondo.” 

As part of the partnership, Cardiff Met Sport has also created meaningful opportunities for students to gain real-world marketing and brand collaboration experience. From content creation to campaign promotion, students have played a central role in bringing this product to life. 

Lucy Isaac, BSc (Hons) Sport Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage student, has acted as a brand ambassador for the collaboration: “Being involved in this campaign has been a valuable opportunity to gain experience working with a brand and understanding what goes into a successful product launch. Using the bag day-to-day and helping promote it across my channels has given me a real insight into how influencer collaborations work, and it’s a great opportunity to add to my CV.” 

Danny Costello, CEO at Built for Athletes, added: “At Built for Athletes, our mission has always been to support those who strive to achieve their full potential. Partnering with Cardiff Met Sport, an institution renowned for its commitment to sporting excellence and development, is a natural alignment of two high-performance cultures. We’re incredibly excited about the potential of this collaboration to impact student athletes on and off the field. This partnership reflects our ongoing strategy to engage with the next generation of dedicated fitness enthusiasts, helping equip them for every challenge they face in their pursuit of greatness.” 

The Built for Athletes x Cardiff Met Sport bags are available now via the Cardiff Met shop