SoftBank is putting the past behind itself as the group’s VC fund announces a $400m investment in Vuori Inc – a US-based women's fashionwear retailer. The investment values Vuori at $4b and the company plans to use its funds to expand its operations into the European and Asian markets over the next five years. Vuori primarily focuses on leggings and sports bras, but since its founding in 2015 it has released an extensive product-set of both women's and men's activewear.

This marks SoftBank’s largest investment in a fashionwear company and hints at the immense growth the space has been seeing recently. With sustainable shoes-manufacturer Allbirds launching an athleisurewear line in the runup to its listing and UK-based athleisure company Gymshark planning an IPO at a $1.4b valuation, athleisure is becoming dominant in the apparel industry.