SONICA has announced a partnership with premium activewear brand New Dimensions Active that will see SONICA and its team become brand partners for NDA, as part of their First Landings alliance.
The premium activewear brand was founded in December 2018 by Skerries siblings Orla and Jeff Hopkins. Designed to optimise freedom of movement and perform in all conditions, the brand offers the best in athleisure wear and sports and fitness apparel. Based in East Wall, Dublin and run by former international gymnast Orla Hopkins and her professional golfer brother, Jeff, the company is committed to empowering individuals through fitness and creating a more sustainable future. The brand has recently developed an eco-conscious and sustainable line of active wear with fabric made of recycled ocean plastics.
The alliance will see NDA become members of SONICA’s First Landings, the construction company’s HQ and business incubator. New Dimensions Active will have the opportunity to ‘land and expand’ their business in a collaborative environment with the support to develop and access to the latest technology, and with SONICA’s Design and Build and Marketing teams at their disposal. First Landings will provide a supportive base as New Dimensions grows, with SONICA sourcing, designing and fitting-out the activewear brand’s future stores. The team will also receive mentoring from Donnacha Neary, an entrepreneur from Skerries, who established SONICA seven years ago.
Commenting on the induction of NDA to First Landings, Donnacha said: “I’m delighted to launch this partnership and welcome NDA to First Landings. At First Landings, our intention is for SONICA to become a true partner through every stage of a member’s business development, and we are thrilled to be able to empower New Dimensions’ next phase of success. Ireland has in recent years become a hotbed for both start-ups and innovative companies and New Dimensions is another exciting example of that. Coming to First Landings as our ‘Lander’ is an example of what’s achievable for all the other exciting businesses out there. I’m looking forward to working with the team during this exciting period of growth for them and helping them to scale their business and realise their future ambitions.”
Speaking about their partnership, Jeff Hopkins of NDA said: “I have lived by the motto of surrounding myself with likeminded people and businesses. At first glance, the partnership between New Dimensions Active and SONICA may seem unusual, but the synergies and mindset for growth are in parallel. The amenities and technologies available at First Landings are like no other location and will bring our production value and creative minds to new heights. Their attention to detail and aspirations are extremely exciting and it’s something that sits at the forefront of our business model. We are thrilled to partner with SONICA and we cannot wait for what the future brings.”
First Landings, based in Skerries, combines all the amenities that emerging businesses today demand to thrive, attract, and retain talent, and is built to support technology and the new online environment – all in one location. The 30,000 sq. ft. collaborative space is a high-spec home with access to a range of technological amenities such as a 125-seater auditorium, EMPIRE, with one of the largest LED screens in the country. Their Virtual Reality suite allows businesses to present their designs to clients in an augmented reality world and the in-house podcast studio acts a recording studio for video podcasts and audio recordings, with the flexibility to livestream or video podcasts for global audiences and client bases. The space has also been designed for the new working environment with non-touch facilities throughout, from entrance and egress, to hot beverage facilities. Wide corridors allow social distance for teams on the move, and the latest technology in-room and desk booking systems enable full traceability.
