Before ANCH became a cycling brand, its foundation was built through years spent racing, training, and understanding what performance apparel needs to do when it is tested on the road.
The Riga based label was founded by Andžs Flaksis, a former professional cyclist whose career took him across Europe and North America. Over more than a decade in the sport, Flaksis raced for teams including Bontrager Cycling Team, Hincapie Racing, and Holowesko Citadel, while collecting results such as a victory at the Riga Grand Prix, second place at the Under 23 European Road Championships, and an overall win at the Tour de Beauce.
That experience became the starting point for ANCH. Years spent riding in changing weather, over long distances, and under the demands of competition gave Flaksis a practical understanding of fit, ventilation, compression, fabric weight, and comfort. The brand grew from that knowledge, translating the details that matter to riders into a more refined and understated visual language.
ANCH approaches cycling through minimalism. Muted colors, clean silhouettes, restrained graphics, and technical fabrics replace the bright palettes and heavy branding often associated with traditional cycling apparel. The clothing is designed to perform at a high level while still feeling considered beyond the bike.
Riga remains central to the brand’s identity. Latvia’s open roads, cooler climate, subdued landscapes, and quiet atmosphere influence both the collections and the imagery surrounding them. The result is a visual world that feels calm, functional, and connected to place.
That sense of place also helps separate ANCH from the growing number of fashion minded cycling labels. The brand is not simply borrowing the appearance of performance. It is built by someone who spent years inside the sport and understands the realities of riding firsthand.
ANCH sits at the intersection of technical design and personal experience. Flaksis’s career gives the brand credibility, while its restrained identity gives it a point of view. Together, those elements create a cycling label that feels grounded, purposeful, and distinctly Latvian.
Rather than treating minimalism as an aesthetic alone, ANCH uses it as a way to focus on what matters most: the rider, the road, and the function of the garment.
Explore the brand here www.anch.cc
Motion Magazine 