Rapha invented it. It's their market, so if you want a piece of the pie you don't start by making similar products.
I seem to remember the likes of Swrve started making similar clothing earlier than Rapha, but sure, let's not question the Rapha origins mythology
Rapha - 2003. Swrve - 2005.
Rapha - 2003.
Swrve - 2005.
Rapha launches cycling-specific jeans: 2011. Edit - sorry, late 2010.
Sure, Rapha was making cycling jerseys and the like before that, but are you going to claim they invented those?
Rapha had an entire range of urban clothing in 2005 called FIXED that included jerseys, shorts, 3/4's, a backpack etc...
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I seem to remember the likes of Swrve started making similar clothing earlier than Rapha, but sure, let's not question the Rapha origins mythology