RetroMuscle: The Brand Bringing Old-School Bodybuilding Back

Interview with RetroMuscle co-founder Cameron Nguele-Merlier, March 2025.

The new brand bringing the Golden Era back to life

Inside RetroMuscle's vintage world with its founders

Old-school bodybuilding still has a powerful appeal. From its 80s aesthetic and vintage styling to its tribute to the Golden Era, RetroMuscle is a brand that embodies that golden age.

We met with Cameron Nguele-Merlier, co-founder of RetroMuscle, to discover the story behind this adventure.

RetroMuscle began with a passion. Can you tell us how the project started?

It all started on Instagram with Samuel Hartman, Valentin Berger and me. We wanted to create classic bodybuilding content while capturing the aesthetic of the 80s.

As a filmmaker and photographer, I had the tools to produce quality visuals inspired by bodybuilding archives and the magazines of that era. Little by little, we brought together a community that shared our passion for that old-school vibe.

How did you move from creating content to building a clothing brand?

Our followers often asked where they could find 80s-style sportswear, and gradually began suggesting that we create our own brand.

With growing demand and the difficulty of finding beautiful vintage pieces, we decided to take the leap. We started modestly, printing on premium wholesale T-shirts in Limoges.

Our very first collection, a limited run of 30 pieces, sold out in less than three minutes. That success confirmed that our community really wanted these products.

When did you decide to take things to the next level?

We quickly realized that printing on blank T-shirts limited what we could do. We wanted to offer completely original pieces with retro cuts and authentic details.

The first garment we designed entirely ourselves was the Neon World Pump Cover, which was still our best-seller at the time of this interview.

We worked on the design by combining ideas from several vintage pieces to create the right fit: roomy but well-shaped, for the look we wanted.

How did the community react to that change?

The response was immediate. Our followers loved the new pump covers, but demand kept growing. We received frustrated messages such as:

"Why post videos if the clothes aren't from your brand?"
"Only one T-shirt available in your store? That's not enough!"

It was clear that we needed to go further and become a fully-fledged clothing brand.

The turning point: an ambitious collection after your trip to Los Angeles

After our trip to L.A. in July 2024, we decided to step things up. We worked hard for several months to release a collection of 13 items, designed down to the smallest detail.

It was an intense period: enormous pressure, financial stakes and logistical problems. But it was worth it.

Feedback from the community

What comes up most often in our customers' feedback is the feeling of standing out when they wear RetroMuscle.

Our clothes have their own identity. Bold colors, cuts inspired by the 80s and an uncompromising approach to quality give every piece a distinctive character.

Many people tell us they feel transported back to the Golden Era when they wear our collections. That is exactly our goal: to offer an experience that goes beyond clothing.

Success and new challenges

The launch exceeded all our expectations. Stock sold out faster than anticipated, creating restocking problems. We had to rethink our logistics to meet demand.

By the time of the original interview, almost five months after officially becoming a brand, we had stabilized our operation and served several thousand customers.

What are the next steps for RetroMuscle?

Our ambition is to offer a real immersion in that legendary era of bodybuilding, through both the style and quality of our clothes.

We also want to bring that spirit into the real world by organizing events and building partnerships that support small old-school gyms. That is our mission.

A final word for fans of vintage bodybuilding?

Thank you to everyone who follows us and is part of the RetroMuscle adventure. If you share our passion for old-school bodybuilding and vintage style, stay connected. There are great surprises ahead!