Pearl Izumi Internships History
Pearl Izumi has origins in Tokyo, Japan more than 50 years ago. Their products began to be seen in the U.S. around 1981 and is now formally known as Pearl Izumi U.S.A., Inc. They have sponsored many bicycling teams, including the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. Pearl Izumi U.S.A. was founded by Davis Phinney, Andy Hampsten, Stan Mavis, and Hugh Walton. They purchased the trademark from David Jacobs, the man who founded Spyder and was the original distributor of Pearl Izumi in the U.S. Pearl Izumi U.S.A., Inc. is a subsidiary of Shimano America, Inc.
Pearl Izumi has products in many sports including cross-country skiing, triathlon, duathlon, and running, but their primary focus is cycling. The name Pearl Izumi is derived from the gem “pearl” and an area of Japan known for its clear water “Izumi.” Literally translated, the name means, “fountain of pearls.”