Golfweek

The LPGA has partnered with Boston-based Streetwear Inc., designating the company as an official licensee of LPGA apparel.

Under the agreement, Streetwear will design, manufacture and distribute LPGA-branded apparel, with the first collection scheduled for retail delivery in early 2013.

“The LPGA has been focusing on bringing to life our tour’s points of distinction, particularly our unique personalities, which naturally extends to our players’ fashion,” said Jon Podany, the LPGA’s chief marketing officer. “. . . As the foremost brand in women’s golf, it is a logical extension to create another touch point for our fans which ties to our performance and style.”

Streetwear plans to distribute the apparel collection in golf and specialty retail shops as well as department stores in the United States and Canada. The company has teamed with Will Cropper, formerly of Adidas Golf, who will lead the LPGA venture.

“We intend on blending today’s performance technologies with styles women can wear both on and off the course, making LPGA Apparel a versatile part of an everyday wardrobe,” Cropper said.

With more than 20 years of experience in apparel design and manufacturing, Streetwear creates its own branded line and has a portfolio of licensed brands ...

We all know the saying: April showers bring May flowers. And that means sometimes the gung-ho golfer has to put up with wet conditions. Modern-day technology, and a few nice fabrics, have helped make those conditions more enjoyable.

Zero Restriction kicks off a month of finding out more about the different options in rain gear. I had the opportunity to talk with Billy Draddy, the senior vice president and creative director of Zero Restriction. He gave me an inside look at the technology behind the brand, and why it’s a great option this spring.

As the top premium rain gear line on the links for many years, it only seems fitting to expand into a technological apparel line. Tell me about this transition and how it came about.

Any moisture management story requires layering -- a moisture protection layer, a thermal/moisture transfer layer and a base layer. We were fully developed in the protection layer, starting with our Gore-Tex product down to our packable and knit waterproof products. For the thermal/mid layer we also had a full assortment of products for any weather condition. But in the base layer category we only had our z400 mock, which is ...

For fans of the Masters Tournament, there's an endless array of Augusta-inspired merchandise, spanning from apparel to coffee cups to umbrellas.

But for those who think their collection is never complete, FootJoy is offering a commemorative shoe for the season's first major – custom-made no less.

Through the company's MyJoys design program, FootJoy is making available a limited-edition, green sting ray printed leather to make 200 pairs of the themed footwear. The shoes can be made in a variety of FootJoy models and range in price from $140 (LoPro Spikeless) to $310 (FJ ICON Sport with BOA) for men's shoes. Women's options are from $140 (LoPro Sport Spikeless) to $200 (DryJoys).

This is the fifth year MyJoys is offering a special product for the major. In 2008, Zach Johnson, then the Masters' defending champion, was among several players who wore shoes made of a green caiman gator printed leather. For this year's tournament, the sting ray print will be used to craft shoes for numerous FootJoy staff players, including Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan, Jason Dufner, Nick Watney, Bill Haas, K.J. Choi, Gary Woodland, Johnson Wagner and Johnson.

FootJoy launched the MyJoys initiative in 2004 ...

We tracked down John Ashworth, the internationally renowned designer and founder of the Ashworth and Fidra brands.

Last August Pima Direct LLC acquired Linksoul Inc. and joined forces with Ashworth. He was named chief creative officer of the combined company and tasked to create a fashionable-golf masterpiece -- and this is exactly what he has done.

Ashworth took some time to discuss the merger and offer some crucial advice from one of golf’s best-dressed men.

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How did Pima Direct and John Ashworth come together to create golf’s newest and most fashionable collection?

I formed Linksoul as a design company a few years back with family. We decided in early 2011 to design clothing under the Linksoul label. As we were putting the finishing touches on our first collection we were also looking for an operational partner that could help us with all of the day-to-day factors. One day last April my brother Hank and I went up to meet Mark Killeen, the president of Pima Direct. After a few meetings we all thought our companies would complement each other and would be a great fit, so we decided to form an alliance.

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With your years of expertise, please tell ...

Some of the endorsements are obvious and in plain sight, like the long-term relationship with signature spokesman Tom Watson or the deal with world No. 1 Luke Donald.

Count Davis Love III, this year’s U.S. Ryder Cup team captain, in that mix, too.

All three are naturals for Polo Golf, a division of Ralph Lauren, which like the parent company is defined by certain words: Classic. Timeless. Quality.

But Polo Golf’s investment in the sport goes far beyond signing PGA Tour players.

Since its founding in 1987, the division’s sponsorship and endorsement activities have established ties to the game’s cornerstones. And the portfolio is still expanding: Beginning this year, Polo Golf will serve as the official outfitter of the R&A, and just last month it announced a new collaboration with the Folds of Honor organization, which uses golf to raise college scholarships for children of military personnel.

Details of the new initiative are still in the works, but Polo officials are tentatively calling it Red Shirt Fridays – with a portion of proceeds of each red Polo shirt sold earmarked for the Folds of Honor.

“We want golfers and golf professionals on Friday, as a ...

After wrapping up a 2012 PGA Merchandise Show, we caught up with Catwalk Performance Artwear founder and designer Lauren Demerling.

We learned about how the line has evolved over the past few years, what mistakes have made them better, and the new and exciting fashion-forward outfits we can look forward to seeing on the tee box this season. Everything from reversible skirts and shirts, convertible dresses and sublimated designs.

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Tell us something about the brand that we didn’t know last year. What new and exciting news do you have to share with us?

For Spring 2012 we have introduced a relaxed fit in a few styles. Please don’t mistake this for a boxy fit as it is not at all boxy. The beauty of the relaxed fit is that it allows women who are not comfortable with the body skimming fit of the standard Catwalk apparel. It allows these ladies to have more room in the breast/back area, as well as the tummy area. The curves are all still there, so women will still feel and look feminine.

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How is the product evolving?

We are constantly listening to feedback from women who wear Catwalk or want to ...

Underscoring its growing push into the golf category, Oakley Inc. announced Feb. 1 the signing of Yani Tseng to its team of global brand ambassadors.

According to the company, the world's top-ranked female player had been using Oakley products since early in her career. Now, with an endorsement deal in place, Tseng will represent a broader array of Oakley products. In addition to wearing Oakley sunglasses, Tseng also will wear apparel from the new Women's Active Collection.

Said Patrick McIlvain, Oakley's vice president of global sports marketing: "… With Yani, the ride has been incredible. We're pleased to further our support as she continues to make her mark on the world of golf."

Tseng, 22, already has five major championships to her credit. In 2011, she was honored as the LPGA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

With his matinee-idol looks and swashbuckling play, Arnold Palmer in his prime struck such a pose that he launched his own apparel line long before he became a legend.

More than 50 years later, the fashion statement he made back then is inspiring a whole new collection, and it very well could land the King a new generation of fans.

In fact, making the Arnold Palmer brand resonate with consumers, primarily ages 16 to 35 – who more than likely never saw him play – is the mission of Arnie, an apparel-licensing deal initiated by Arnold Palmer Enterprises. The new line features modern interpretations of styles that Palmer sported through the 1950s, '60s and '70s, which happened to coincide with three distinctive fashion eras.

Using the timeline concept not only allows the apparel brand to chronicle Palmer's career for new consumers, but naturally promotes variety among the collection, according to Geoff Tait, creative director of Arnie apparel.

Said Tait: "We put our heads together and asked, 'What tells the story of this iconic man?' Lucky enough for us (his career spanned decades) and obviously things change over time, including in the fashion world, and we parlayed what was on the runways ...

Once an iconic golf apparel brand, Ashworth, in its last years as an independent company, became what's dreaded in the business: nondescript casual wear.

Now, it’s back to being tour authentic.

Beginning this PGA Tour season, it will be difficult for viewers not to see Ashworth on tournament broadcasts. According to company officials, Ashworth has recruited approximately 30 tour pros to wear its apparel. Among them are Justin Leonard, Rory Sabbatini and Johnson Wagner, who already has a 2012 victory with a win at the Sony Open.

The big tour push continues the revival of Ashworth, which was in ailing fiscal health before TaylorMade-Adidas Golf bought it in 2008. Considering that the company’s acquisition coincided with the economy’s downturn, Ashworth’s turnaround has taken longer than expected, TaylorMade officials say.

“Our timing was impeccable, as they say,” joked John Kawaja, TaylorMade’s executive vice president. He can laugh about it now, in part, because Ashworth’s apparel and footwear sales in the U.S. are projected to grow about 20 percent this year. Internationally, Kawaja said, some markets are forecasting single-digit growth while sales in Japan are expected to grow three-fold.

Refinement and tweaking of product ...

Creamer makes Sundogs even more easy on the eyes

Mid-morning Saturday, the lines curved around three sides of the Sundog eyewear booth as Paula Creamer greeted fans and signed autographs. The LPGA superstar not only wears the technologically advanced sunglasses, but, together with creative director Michal Hrk, is very hands-on with the design process.

Given Creamer’s pink wardrobe, one might assume that her designs would be heavily rose-colored. Instead, her personality shows through in other ways. On the “Iconic” style, details of her life are etched into the earpieces (there is a Pink Panther, a queen of hearts design and flowers and vines).

“Kind of her own personal story,” Gary Makar, Sundog marketing director explained.

The Creamer line, which features six new models for 2012, is heavy in aviator styles that Creamer became interested in designing before she was scheduled to take a ride with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds in September 2010. It’s a style she frequently sports on the course.

Creamer has been with the company since 2006, and other Sundog players include Louis Oosthuizen, Pablo Larrazabal and Mike Weir. Sundog is notable for its Mela-lens (short for melanin lens) technology, which provides both eye ...

Considering the volatile nature of the golf apparel business, which companies often enter and leave just as quickly, it’s no surprise that FootJoy took its time deciding whether it wanted to be a part of it.

But after intense research, which amounted to a veritable “white paper” on the $1 billion wholesale apparel category, FootJoy made its call. With insight gained from 3,000 consumer responses and 314 one-on-one interviews with trade partners, FootJoy is confident there’s an opportunity to be had amid the chaos.

“It’s a fragmented category,” said Andy Jones, FootJoy’s vice president, gloves/accessories/apparel, worldwide. “If you look at golf clubs or balls, if you get the top eight companies or so, you’re going to have 90 percent-plus of the business. In apparel, there could be 200 companies. There’s no one player who has 50 percent share.”

For spring, the company has unveiled its first lineup of FJ Performance Golf Apparel with which it’ll make its foray into the market: Four color-themed collections. All performance fabrics. No cotton. Designed for the serious golfer. (At this week's PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., the company also is debuting four ...

Ian Poulter, a long-time Cobra staff player, is expanding his endorsement duties to the company’s sister brand, Puma Golf.

Beginning this season, Poulter will wear Puma footwear and belts, and continue to use Cobra equipment.

By tapping Poulter, Puma adds another marquee name to help increase its profile and credibility as a legitimate golf brand. Puma, which acquired Cobra in 2010, has steadily increased its footprint in the golf category, and its marketing stable includes Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist and Johan Edfors.

“Ian’s worldwide presence on multiple tours will help drive home Cobra Puma Golf’s core message to enjoy golf through innovative, performance products with a stylish edge…,” said Bob Philion, president of Cobra Puma Golf, in a statement.

Initially, Poulter will wear Puma’s new Neo Classic Pro-Type shoe. This model won’t be immediately available to consumers, but a limited release is scheduled for midsummer. Among the shoe’s features: a full-grain upper leather with brogue details in the formstripe; the company’s proprietary S2C Pro (Swing Speed Chassis Pro) outsole; S2 Quill Technology – a combination of directionally molded spikes and replaceable spikes for traction.

As part of his responsibilities, Poulter also will ...

Time and time again we mention how difficult it can be to look fashionable, yet functional. But we have found the guy that has seemed to conquer it all with Galway Bay Apparel. His name is Terry Prillaman, and at 58 years of age he has found his niche in the golf fashion industry, by following his passion for the game. Here is a quick Q&A we did with Prillaman.

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Tell us a little about you and how Galway Bay Apparel came to be?

• My career has been in the investment business, but I’ve always followed sports fashions. I play year-round golf and have always disliked the bulkiness of cold weather apparel. I was purchasing a pair of $250 rain pants and realized that I still had to buy slacks and long underwear. It seemed that $350 for three layers of pants was too much. I searched for golf slacks that would look nice and keep me protected from the elements, but none existed. With no experience, but hopefully a good idea, the idea was born in June 2009. With the help of numerous experts in the fashion, technical, and manufacturing world, our first products arrived in November ...

While it was a tight race - with both teams looking strikingly sharper than in previous years - we still had to dig deep for a winner of the 2011 Solheim Cup Fashion Face-Off. And we weren’t sure if it was the smile on their faces, or the fire in their eyes, that had the Europeans coming out on top - for the second Solheim in a row.

Why the Europeans, you ask? Well, the Abacus attire seemed to fit the setting perfectly. They did a great job with keeping to the tradition of golf with the argyles and stripes, and with fabrics and accessories that were appropriate and could hold up to the toughest conditions - not to mention looking quite dapper in the meantime. You can always leave it up to the Europeans to dress appropriately, but you cannot always count on them for style - this time you could! They won our hearts with the violet infused practice-round outfit and capped it off with the subtle, yet patriotic boldness of the European Union stars during the final round.

On the flip side, we had our highly spirited American gals, who looked well put together in their Antigua gear. Unfortunately, what lost ...

• Click here for Complete Coverage from the Solheim Cup

It’s time again to assess the Solheim Cup girls in the most important way of all – the Fashion Faceoff.

Every other year we make a point of crowning the Solheim “Fashion” Cup Champions. I think it is going to be a particularly tough decision this time around. Why? Because both the Abacus and Antigua brands have done a terrific job with styling their players, and we just cannot get enough of all the fun outfits.

While the actual Solheim points race is close, we have to say wardrobes race is a dead-heat, as well. Between the opening ceremony outfits and the Round 1 uniforms, we are stumped on who is going to come out on top on the fashion front.

Although the European gals are sporting the somewhat conservative yet traditionally elegant Abacus line, it is going to be pretty hard to surpass the flashy and always exciting American team decked out in their Antigua gear. So it is going to be up to the girls to win us over with the way they wear each outfit.

Also, weather is going to be a vital factor to this competition and ...