The Story Behind ABSOLUTE360®

Our Very First Blog Post

Wow… what an incredible whirlwind the last few months have been for ABSOLUTE360.

Over coffee and a few rather delicious doughnuts, we were discussing what our very first blog post should be about. After much debate, we all agreed it should tell the story of us — how ABSOLUTE360 came to life.

So, welcome to our very first blog post.

My name is Umberto Bergonzini and I am the founder and owner of ABSOLUTE360®. Before I tell you how the company was born, I'd like to share my personal experience with infrared-responsive clothing, as it played an important role in everything that followed.

My Personal Experience with Infrared Clothing

In the summer of 2009, a fellow martial artist introduced me to a range of garments made with far infrared technology. They were described as revolutionary for performance, recovery and everyday wellbeing.

I've always been open-minded when it comes to exploring new ways to support health and physical performance. More importantly, the person introducing these products was someone I trusted implicitly. His honesty and integrity gave me every reason to try them for myself.

Martial arts have always been a huge part of my life. This photo was taken around the time I first discovered infrared technology in 2009.

At the time, I had been experiencing persistent discomfort in my knee, similar to what many runners describe as "runner's knee". Although it wasn't preventing me from training, it was becoming increasingly frustrating.

I purchased a knee support along with a small quantity of infrared fibre. After wearing the support for a short period, the discomfort gradually eased and I was able to continue training comfortably. My initial reaction was simply, "That's impressive."

At that stage, however, I didn't go on to purchase any additional products.

The Real Test

Around four months later, I suffered what was by far the worst ankle sprain I had ever experienced—not during martial arts training, but while playing with my son in the park.

After hearing a loud crack and feeling immediate pain, I genuinely believed I had broken my ankle. Within minutes it had swollen considerably and began to bruise heavily.

When I returned home, I followed the standard advice for managing an acute injury by resting, applying ice and elevating my ankle. I also remembered that I still had the infrared fibre and decided to wrap it around the injured area beneath a tubigrip bandage.

The infrared fibre that sparked my curiosity and ultimately inspired the creation of ABSOLUTE360®

The following morning my ankle remained swollen, and weight-bearing was still difficult. I continued wearing the fibre throughout the day and gradually noticed improvements in both comfort and mobility.

By Monday morning the swelling had reduced significantly, and I was able to walk far more comfortably. Although lateral movement was still restricted, I was genuinely surprised by how quickly my ankle had improved compared to previous injuries I had experienced.

The experience sparked a great deal of curiosity. I found myself wondering whether there was more to this technology than I had originally realised.

Researching Far Infrared Technology

Naturally, I wanted to learn more.

As I began researching far infrared technology, I quickly discovered a substantial body of published scientific literature investigating its biological effects and potential applications.

I found peer-reviewed research exploring areas including thermoregulation, circulation, tissue temperature and physiological responses associated with far infrared technology. The research had been published across several respected scientific and medical journals, including the International Journal of Biometeorology, the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the Journal of the American Heart Association and the Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering, among others.

The more I read, the more fascinated I became. Although I appreciated that scientific research continues to evolve, I was encouraged by the amount of work that had already been carried out and wanted to learn more about infrared technology.

Encouraged by both my own experience and what I had learned through my research, I gradually incorporated more infrared clothing into my daily routine, including 24/7 socks, leggings and performance tops.

What Happened Next?

Like most people who discover something they genuinely value, I naturally began telling friends, family and fellow martial artists about my experience.

Before long, people were asking where they could buy the products for themselves. At the time, they weren't readily available in the UK, so I began arranging purchases through my sister overseas.

Word spread surprisingly quickly.

Friends introduced friends, martial arts students began sharing their own experiences, and many people came back asking me to order additional garments for them.

At that stage it still wasn't a business — it was simply me sharing products that I genuinely believed in.

Then the opportunity arose to become the official UK distributor.

After many conversations with the manufacturer and plenty of careful consideration, a partnership was agreed and the foundations of ABSOLUTE360 were laid.

ABSOLUTE360 Was Born

The company was officially formed in January 2013.

Although the business now existed, it still needed an identity.

Finding the right name wasn't easy. After yet another coffee-and-doughnut brainstorming session, ABSOLUTE360 was finally born (I'll explain the meaning behind the name in a future blog post).

The original hand-drawn concept alongside the finished ABSOLUTE360® logo

Once the name and logo had been finalised, everything moved incredibly quickly. We secured the domain name, designed our logo, built the website and worked tirelessly to prepare for launch.

ABSOLUTE360 officially opened its online store in June 2013.

We currently offer a carefully selected range of products, but we are excited about what is in the pipeline. As the company grows, our product range will expand, and new garments will continue to be added to the virtual shelves of our online store.

The future looks bright. The future looks ABSOLUTE360.