Andrew Ritchie created the first iconic, folding Brompton bike in 1975. As the brand turns 50, Brompton has launched a new ‘Life Unfolded’ brand platform which celebrates the brand’s unique heritage.

The upmarket bikes are crafted and designed in London, with the first bike created at Ritchie’s flat, which overlooked Brompton Oratory in 1975. Today over 1.2 million Brompton bikes have been sold in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Brompton estimates that a collective 27,500 hours were spent socialising on its bikes in 2024 alone, which equates to 3.1 years of riding and 8.2 million calories burned.

At the heart of the new ‘Life Unfolded’ brand platform, a hero video celebrates the growing Brompton community. The film, created by London-based creative agency, The Liberty Guild, is a montage of imagery from 50 years of Brompton.

The fast-paced film follows Brompton riders and their aspirational lifestyles across the globe. Riders carry their foldable bikes with them as they connect with friends and ride their bikes in iconic landscapes and cities. The spot is underpinned with Brompton language, welcoming audiences ‘into the fold’ and celebrating how things ‘click into place’ in a nod to the craft and design of the bike. 

The wider ‘Life Unfolded’ brand platform has been designed to celebrate the physical and emotional benefits of Brompton. It encourages the community to engage with one another and will be made up of online forums and in real-life meet ups around the world. 

“The Brompton is much more than just a bicycle - it opens up a whole new world of mobility for riders. It not only helps you move around your city differently, it helps you see it differently too,” says Chris Willingham, Global Marketing Director at Brompton.

He continues: “Once you understand what a Brompton can unlock, there’s no going back - this shared understanding is what brings our global communities together every week, offline and online. ‘Life Unfolded’ seeks to capture this joy and freedom by telling the stories that flow through our communities. It scratches the surface of how a humble folding bike can enhance people’s lives on a daily basis.”

This campaign is launched in conjunction with a brand refresh. The activations aim to drive greater consistency and cohesion across channels and markets globally.

With a focus on building community, the campaign widens the lens on the Brompton product to show the places audiences can go and broaden their horizons.