On September 30th, BV Sport welcomed a group of Italian journalists to its headquarters in Saint-Étienne for a day dedicated to innovation and sporting passion. The French company has become a global reference point in high-performance sports compression.
Founded in 1989 by two vascular doctors — including Michael Prufer, world ski champion and Olympic gold medalist in Albertville — BV Sport was created with an ambitious goal: to improve athletes’ performance through a medical-scientific approach to compression. This pioneering vision led to the creation of the first Booster.
In 2006, BV Sport entered a new chapter in its history under the leadership of Salvatore Corona, a visionary entrepreneur who decided to invest in building an integrated production unit and an in-house research and development center. His sons, Nicolas and Thomas Corona, also joined the company. Over the years, they have modernized the brand’s image, making it younger and more dynamic, and have launched collections that combine contemporary design with technical precision. Also part of the team is Manuela Corona, who opened the Italian market and today plays a strategic role in aligning the parent company with the needs of Italian athletes. The company has around 40 employees in France and a network of 11 agents in Italy, representing a perfect example of an independent, innovative, and locally rooted business.
Selective Compression: The Smart Evolution of Performance
During the visit, Julien Romain, the company’s technical manager, explained to journalists the core of BV Sport’s research: selective compression. Unlike classic uniform compression, which starts at the ankle and decreases toward the calf, selective compression — patented by the company in 2011 — is based on a calibrated alternation of soft, semi-rigid, and rigid mesh, applied specifically according to the athlete’s anatomy and physiology. This system optimizes muscle biomechanics in motion, improves venous return by enhancing muscle oxygenation, reduces muscle vibrations and oscillations (delaying fatigue), and stabilizes muscle groups to prevent microtraumas. The result is intelligent, adaptive compression, capable of following and supporting the moving leg without restricting freedom — instead, enhancing biomechanical efficiency.
This principle has been refined over the years thanks to close collaboration with the School of Engineering of Saint-Étienne, leading to the development of the first Booster Elite, which later evolved into the Booster Elite Evo, and finally into the latest Booster Elite Evolution.
Booster Elite Evolution: Heir to the Past, Pioneer of the Future
An ultra-technical, lightweight, and eco-responsible calf sleeve, it is designed using new mesh structures with varying stiffness levels (ultra-flexible, flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid). The Booster Elite Evolution accelerates venous return, provides optimal muscle support, improves muscle oxygenation to fight fatigue (cramps, tingling), and is developed and manufactured in France by BV Sport teams, using SENSIL ECOCARE recycled fibers, for a softer and higher-performing fabric.
Inspired by the Booster Elite EVO2, the new calf sleeve, when worn regularly, accelerates toxin elimination, alleviates the sensation of heavy legs, allows muscles to tire more slowly, and limits the onset of muscle damage that can lead to injuries. It also helps muscles recover better after exertion.
Designed to be worn during both training and competition, the Booster has supported athletes for over 10 years in their pursuit of well-being, comfort, and performance during effort. Effective in running and football, this sleeve is an essential tool to protect your body.
Imagined, developed, and produced in France, the BV Sport team aimed to reduce its impact on the planet with this new technology. Through the use of fibers derived from pre-consumer waste, and by minimizing waste and energy consumption, the company has managed to reduce the environmental impact of its production process.
“Booster”: From Product Name to Global Category
Today, the term “booster” has entered the everyday vocabulary of athletes to generically refer to compression calf sleeves. An extraordinary fact, considering that the term was coined by BV Sport, the first to introduce the concept, register the patent, and define its biomechanical foundations. A success that not only highlights the company’s technical leadership, but also its cultural and linguistic influence in the world of sport.
High-Tech Made in France Production
The visit included a detailed tour of the Saint-Étienne production facility, where all compression garments and a range of short technical socks are made. Here, expertise meets the precision of circular medical knitting technology, which allows for extremely accurate compression and “tailor-made” socks for every sport. The socks are not printed: the graphic patterns are created directly through the yarn combinations — a process that reflects the technical and sartorial approach that distinguishes every BV Sport product.
Sport, Nature, and Local Identity
The day ended with a trail running session in the Pilat Natural Park, surrounded by the pristine landscapes around Saint-Étienne, and a local wine tasting, offering a taste of the region’s culinary and winemaking excellence.
