Interview with Nico Serena, why we support Womens Hockey from the beginning

Our mission with AYCANE has always been crystal clear: to help hockey players perform better. We didn’t set out to create just another base layer, we wanted to rethink it entirely.

We began by developing performance-enhancing base layers using advanced temperature-regulating fabrics. Our material can lower skin temperature by up to 2°C, helping players sweat up to 25% less.That might sound small, but it can lead to a performance boost of around 2%, and at the elite level,that can make all the difference.

Shortly after launching in 2020, we turned our focus to protective gear, specifically neck guards andskate socks. I noticed that the products available were generic, with little to no innovation. Everyone was wearing the same thing, and it didn’t meet our standards.

Given our background and mindset, we knew we could do better. So, we raised the bar, designing our first neck guard shirt with the same commitment to breakthrough functionality that shaped our base layers.

From day one, gender equality has been a cornerstone of AYCANE. We were shocked to see no brand offering neck guards specifically designed for women. To us, it was obvious, women’s hockey deserves the same level of performance, protection, and respect as the men’s game. That’s why we committed from the start to developing gear tailored to female athletes. Equal commitment deserves equal innovation.

AYCANE is built on what we call our six-pillar DNA. It’s not just a framework, it’s what we believe, what we live by every day:

1. Purpose-Driven Innovation
   Every product exists to make hockey safer, smarter, and more advanced. We innovate with intent, through cutting-edge materials, athlete insights, and bold design, to solve real performance and safety challenges.

2. Safety Without Compromise
   Our goal is to eliminate preventable injuries in hockey. Our cut-resistant base layers and protective socks are more than gear, they're game-changers. No athlete should have to choose between comfort, style, and safety.

3. Equal Game, Equal Gear
   From the beginning, we’ve designed for women as intentionally as we design for men. We don’t resize. We rethink, ensuring elite performance and protection for everyone.

4. Athlete-First Mentality
   We listen to players at every level. Their feedback shapes our products and fuels our evolution. Beyond gear, we support hockey communities and grow with the game.

5. Swiss Engineered, Globally Focused
   AYCANE was born in Switzerland, produced across Europe and Asia, and is growing in globaly. We blend Swiss precision, Scandinavian minimalism, and global ambition.

6. Disruptive by Design
   We challenge the norm in hockey apparel, clean aesthetics, technical fabrics, and design-forward thinking define our identity. We’re here to raise the bar.

This is AYCANE. It’s what we think, what we breathe, and what drives us every day.

Putting athletes first means designing based on real needs, not assumptions. When we set out to create gear for female hockey players, we knew resizing men’s products wouldn’t cut it. The female body is different and deserves equipment built with those differences in mind.

So, we started from scratch. Fit, comfort, performance, and safety were all shaped by the feedback of players who live and breathe the game.

We were fortunate to collaborate with elite athletes like Alina Müller, who brought deep technical insight, and Noemi Rhyner, whose eye for design helped define the visual identity of the line.

That’s what athlete-first means to us: listening closely, designing deliberately, and creating gear that performs in the real world.

What surprised us most was how overlooked base layers had been. Not just by brands, but even by athletes themselves. They were treated as an afterthought, despite being the first thing you put on and the last thing you take off. In a sport as fast and physical as hockey, that made no sense to us.

The skin is the body’s largest organ, it regulates temperature, manages moisture, and is in constant contact with gear. Traditional base layers ignored all of that. They were outdated, uncomfortable, and offered almost no protection.

We saw that space, the interface between skin and gear, as a performance zone of its own. So, we reimagined the base layer as a piece of equipment: something that enhances mobility, regulates body temperature, and adds protection. Once we made that mindset shift, everything changed. Base layers weren’t just apparel anymore, they became game-changers.

As I mentioned, men, women, and juniors all have fundamentally different body shapes. That’s why we don’t believe in unisex products. One-size-fits-all simply doesn’t work in high-performance sports.

To us, fit is function. If cut-resistant protection doesn’t sit exactly where it needs to, it fails its purpose. That’s not just bad design; it’s a safety issue.

At AYCANE, we don’t compromise on this. We didn’t build this brand to chase fast sales, we built it to make athletes better and the game safer. And that starts by understanding the athlete’s body.

Take our women’s pants, for example. They’re not just scaled-down versions of the men’s; they’re engineered from the ground up. A wider, softer waistband gives a legging-like feel that stays secure, even in high-intensity moments.

Take our women’s pants, for example. They’re not just scaled-down versions of the men’s—they’re engineered from the ground up. A wider, softer waistband gives a legging-like feel that stays secure, even in high-intensity moments.

Every detail, from the fit to the fabric, is intentional. It’s about empowering athletes to move freely, play confidently, and stay focused on the game.

For us, women’s hockey isn’t a moment, a campaign, or a seasonal initiative, it’s woven into our identity. Since day one, we’ve supported the women’s game with the same energy, respect, and innovation we bring to every part of AYCANE.

That support is year-round, not just when the spotlight is on. We design gear specifically for female athletes, collaborate with top players to perfect it, and use our platform to elevate their voices on and off the ice.

That said, moments like the World Championship are powerful. They allow us to celebrate the athletes we’re proud to work with and to show the world what happens when gear is designed for women from the ground up.

Because this isn’t just performance apparel. It’s a statement: women deserve products that match their ambition, protect their bodies, and elevate their game. And we’re proud to stand behind them, not just now, but always.

It’s incredibly rewarding. A clear sign that we’re on the right path.

Elite athletes are approached by countless brands. So, when they choose AYCANE without an endorsement deal, it speaks volumes. That kind of trust is the highest form of feedback—and it’s truly priceless.

We’ve poured our heart into building a brand with purpose. Every stitch, fabric, and feature are designed to support athletes physically, mentally, and emotionally.

When a player puts on something that makes them feel confident, protected, and seen, that’s empowering. And that’s what fuels performance.

For us, it’s about more than just making high-performance gear. It’s about building trust, building community, and contributing to a more inclusive future for the sport we love.

We’re committed to growing our women’s collection, but this goes beyond adding products, it’s about building the game from the ground up.

We want to work more closely with players at every level, engaging them at events, collaborating with national teams, and forging partnerships with organizations across North America, Europe and Asia. Athlete feedback remains at the heart of everything we do.

But our mission also includes the grassroots. We’re exploring ways to support programs that introduce young girls to hockey, especially between the ages of 4 and 6.

It all starts with visibility. When young girls see women’s, teams receiving the same support and recognition as men’s teams, it changes what they believe is possible. That’s the spark—and we want to be part of lighting it.

The future of women’s hockey depends on building a strong pipeline of young talent. That means investing early, encouraging girls to lace up, step on the ice, and dream big. That’s not a side project. That’s a priority.

It’s incredibly exciting. We’re seeing real momentum in women’s hockey, here in Switzerland and across Europe. More women are leading, more girls are getting involved, and the level of competition is rising fast.

At AYCANE, we’re proud to be part of that evolution. Our mission is to provide gear that balances comfort, performance, and safety. So, athletes can focus on their game with total confidence.

Women’s hockey isn’t a passing phase for us. It’s a long-term commitment. We’re here to support female athletes with the very best products, today and in the future. And together, we’re helping shape a stronger, more inclusive sport for the next generation