I first met Nate Checketts when he was twelve years old. I was selling sponsorships for Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, and Nate’s father, Dave, was President of the Knicks (and would later go on to be the President and CEO of Madison Square Garden). You could tell back then that Nate was destined to do big things.
Fast forward thirty years and Nate is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rhone, a premium men’s lifestyle and performance apparel brand, headquartered in Stamford. Founded in 2014 by Nate and his brother, Ben (who is Rhone’s creative director), Rhone entered the activewear market in direct competition with popular brands like Nike and Lululemon. Rhone started as an active brand carried in places like Equinox and SoulCycle, and over time added a commuter line of sports shirts, slacks, and sports coats, which has been a huge success for the company. Nate views Rhone as the next generation of products for work, home, lifestyle and for those who are busy on the go.
2023 was a very busy year for Rhone. They opened 11 retail stores around the country (including one in Westport) and are about to launch a women’s line of performance clothing in May. In fact, just a couple of months ago, Rhone announced a major partnership with the LPGA.
But perhaps the biggest news occurred when Rhone bought out the private equity interest in the business so they could think about the business in a long-term way, led by a group of investors that included co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, David Blitzer, co-owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Gabe Plotkin, and football legends Tim Tebow and Greenwich’s Steve Young. In addition to this recent group of investors, there are seven professional sports team owners and a myriad of current and former athletes, including NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman and former NY Giant Justin Tuck who are betting on Rhone.
Rhone is developing a unique position in the apparel market with their focus on “mental fitness”, which translates to building and outfitting a holistic life and an active performance lifestyle. Checketts says that one of his goals with Rhone is for the company to have a massive impact on mental health.
Outside of running the company, Nate is the Chairman of the Board of Beyond Type 1, an organization founded in part by Nick Jonas, that is seeking a path to the cure for type 1 diabetes. And last November, just a few days before rival high schools New Canaan and Darien clashed in the famed Turkey Bowl, Nate sponsored a “Stronger Together” event, part of a movement to destigmatize mental health. He brought together 200 high school football players to share a meal and talk about mental health issues. “What matters most is how you’re taking care of yourself and how you’re taking care of those around you”, said Checketts at the event. “Mental health is much bigger than football.”
Why did Nate decide to base the company in Stamford? “Stamford is underrated in terms of talent and expertise,” said Checketts. “There is no shortage of smart, talented, creative people in this area. Stamford is booming. Plus, I wanted a 15-minute commute from my home in Darien, because family
always comes first.”
When asked about what he loves about being an entrepreneur, Nate says “I have an emotional attachment to winning, and it feels so much more personal and important when it’s your company.”
The way Rhone is heading, there will be a lot of winning in Nate Checkett’s future.
“What matters most is taking care of yourself and those around you”
