History
Juha "Mr. YOKO" Tirinen, 40 years after founding Yoko
LIFE BEGINS WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR
Yoko has 40 years of experience and expertise in designing and manufacturing quality sportswear using first-rate materials. Designed in Finland, where the challenging climate calls for proper equipment, our products are intended to serve their user under any circumstances, from outdoor and leisure activities to the most demanding competition conditions, regardless of the season. It is our passion and duty to manufacture exactly the right products to fit your demands, whether you are a recreational exerciser or a professional athlete.
By choosing Yoko’s sports apparel, you can rest assured that the your comfort and enjoyment of outdoor activities won’t be compromised by what you’re wearing. The great outdoors are filled with experiences; we’ll leave the fulfillment and satisfaction to you.
OVER 40 YEARS OF YOKO
1977
The story of Yoko begins in 1977 in Forssa, Finland, when Juha Tirinen and Kaija Gustafsson founded a sportswear manufacturing company named JOKO. Both had vast experience in the industry, having previously worked together at Finnish sportswear companies Koho and Sinisalo. Joko started off making mitts for a sport called Pesäpallo, a Finnish version of baseball.
The story of Yoko begins in 1977 in Forssa, Finland, when Juha Tirinen and Kaija Gustafsson founded a sportswear manufacturing company named JOKO. Both had vast experience in the industry, having previously worked together at Finnish sportswear companies Koho and Sinisalo. Joko started off making mitts for a sport called Pesäpallo, a Finnish version of baseball.
Juha Tirinen was an international level motocross racer, so Joko naturally began to branch out into motocross gear, starting its endeavor in co-operation with a brand called Moto-X Fox. The first items born of this collaboration were Moto-X Fox gloves manufactured by Joko. Soon Fox founder Geoff Fox told Tirinen that in his opinion, Joko should be written with a Y instead of a J, so Joko became Yoko. Later on, Tirinen suggested that Geoff replace the letter O in "FOX" with the Fox head symbol.
1979
During the late 70s and early 80s, YOKO and Moto-X Fox logos co-existed on the gear of legendary names such as Brad Lackey, Mark Barnett, Graham Noyce, all of whom delivered Yoko and Fox World AMA Championship titles.
During the late 70s and early 80s, YOKO and Moto-X Fox logos co-existed on the gear of legendary names such as Brad Lackey, Mark Barnett, Graham Noyce, all of whom delivered Yoko and Fox World AMA Championship titles.
1982
It wasn’t until 1982 that Yoko and Fox started selling their gear separately. Still, Fox gear (along with Oneal, AXO, Answer, Hallman Husky etc.) was produced at the Yoko Factory in Finland until the early 90s. Motorcycling gear was also added to the Yoko repertoire at this time.
It wasn’t until 1982 that Yoko and Fox started selling their gear separately. Still, Fox gear (along with Oneal, AXO, Answer, Hallman Husky etc.) was produced at the Yoko Factory in Finland until the early 90s. Motorcycling gear was also added to the Yoko repertoire at this time.
1983
The first Yoko skiing products were born when Finnish skier Asko Autio asked Tirinen to produce some gloves for cross-country skiing. Yoko obliged and Asko went on to win the 50 km race -- earning the King’s Cup -- at the 1983 World Championships in Holmenkollen, Norway. Yoko ski suits started to appear a couple of years later.
The first Yoko skiing products were born when Finnish skier Asko Autio asked Tirinen to produce some gloves for cross-country skiing. Yoko obliged and Asko went on to win the 50 km race -- earning the King’s Cup -- at the 1983 World Championships in Holmenkollen, Norway. Yoko ski suits started to appear a couple of years later.
Swede Håkan Carlgvist captured his second World Championship title in 1983, this time in the 500cc class.
1984
Yoko riders swept the 1984 World Championship in all three classes, with Italian Michele Rinaldi (pictured below) taking the 125cc title, Austrian Heinz Kinigadner winning the 250cc class, and Belgian Andre Malherbe the premier 500cc class.
Yoko riders swept the 1984 World Championship in all three classes, with Italian Michele Rinaldi (pictured below) taking the 125cc title, Austrian Heinz Kinigadner winning the 250cc class, and Belgian Andre Malherbe the premier 500cc class.
1985
Heinz Kinigadner won the 250cc World Championship in 1985 as well.
Heinz Kinigadner won the 250cc World Championship in 1985 as well.
1986
Yoko rider and British legend David Thorpe won the 1985 and -86 Motocross World Championships in the 500 cc class.
Yoko rider and British legend David Thorpe won the 1985 and -86 Motocross World Championships in the 500 cc class.
1987
Yoko was the first brand to start producing Gore-Tex motorcycling suits.
Yoko was the first brand to start producing Gore-Tex motorcycling suits.
Dutchman John Van Den Berk became the 125cc Motocross World Champion in 1987 and the 250cc Champion the very next year 1988.
1989
Legendary skiing couple Harri and Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi both wore Yoko gloves on their way to victory at the Lahti 1989 World Championships, with Harri taking the gold in the 15 km classic and Marja-Liisa in the women's 10 km classic.
1991
Norwegian Terje Langli was one of the long time Yoko pilots. He captured gold in the 10 km race at the Val Di Fiemme World Championships in 1991.
1993
Yoko hired American Honda’s Steve Lamson as its main rider in 1993, a position in which he remained until 1994, when Yoko decided to quit producing moto garments and transferred the Yoko moto license to another Finnish manufacturer.
1994
Yoko was now focusing solely on cross-country skiing garments and poles, a business they had been building successfully since the early 80s.
1999
Towards the end of the 90s, Yoko expanded its product range yet again, this time venturing into bikewear. 1999 women's downhill World Championship silver medalist Katja Repo was one of the Yoko factory riders.
2000
When the new millennium rolled around, Kaija Gustafsson's son Jani Gustafsson took over the Yoko business at just 26 years of age. Having spent most of his childhood at the Yoko factory in Forssa, Jani had Yoko in his blood, initially just hanging around, but taking factory duties as well as he got older. One summer he was running the screen print machine, a laser cutting machine the next, and later on, as a teenager, he assembled 100 000 knee guards single-handedly.
Although an old one, here is a rare shot of all the significant Yoko people together, starting with founder Juha Tirinen on the right, co-founder Kaija Gustafsson in the middle, and Yoko factory's technical manager Hannu Raatikainen on the left. In the background you can find Jani Gustafsson, aged 11, who would later take over the reigns at Yoko.
2002
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, 9 of the available 12 cross-country skiing gold medals were won with Yoko gloves. Worth mentioning here is that all the winning gloves were models that anyone could buy in the retail shops, which wasn’t often the case at the pinnacle of cross-country skiing, where most gear was custom made.
2003
Swiss mountain bike rider Thomas Frischknecht won the MTB World Championship wearing Yoko gloves in 2003, and fellow countryman Nino Schurter took his Yoko gloves to the title 2009.
Swiss mountain bike rider Thomas Frischknecht won the MTB World Championship wearing Yoko gloves in 2003, and fellow countryman Nino Schurter took his Yoko gloves to the title 2009.
2011
Juha Salminen, one of the all time Enduro greats, won his 13th and final World Championship title wearing Yoko. Yoko moto gear was produced by another company at the time. Photo. J. Edmunds.
Juha Salminen, one of the all time Enduro greats, won his 13th and final World Championship title wearing Yoko. Yoko moto gear was produced by another company at the time. Photo. J. Edmunds.
2013
Yoko added skis and ski boots to its cross-country product range. The ski factory is located in Kitee, Finland and run by Harri Kirvesniemi, a cross country World Champion himself.
2016
Yoko's moto license found its way back home and Yoko now owns the sole right to produce original Yoko motocross, enduro, motorcycling and snowmobile gear.
Yoko's moto license found its way back home and Yoko now owns the sole right to produce original Yoko motocross, enduro, motorcycling and snowmobile gear.
2017 –
We expanded our technical garment expertise to a whole new product category, Technical Team Wear. Over the years we have provided premium quality technical team wear for various motorsports teams, including Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team (2019–20), Ice One Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing (2019–2021) and KTM Group (2019–)
2021
Yokokauppa.fi webshop and retail store was founded in Helsinki, to present and sell full range of Yoko cross country skiing and bicycle clothing and accessories.
Present
Yoko Team wit CEO Jani Gustafsson (left) at the helm is now pushing full steam ahead, spreading the YOKO word and coming up with innovative products for cross-country skiing and bicycle and motorsports and technical team wear.
