Golf Shirts Keeping Sweat At Bay On As Well As Off the course
It is no longer enough that a shirt be a nice color or design, people today are expecting a shirt to ‘do’ something be it wicking moisture, protecting from UV rays or killing bacteria. The expectation is evenmore when the shirt is worn for sports and active lifestyle. Golf apparel is jumping on a ‘high in demand’ trend and at just the right time, which is serving as an amazing way to launch the urban fashion on the golf course.The biggest trends in golf apparel in the last couple of years have revolved around technical fabrics. A surge is observed in moisture-wicking and stretch fabrics aimed at offering the wearer a higher level of performance and comfort when active, infact sport shirts and golf apparel are some of the most versatile garments available in the market today. Golfers are on the lookout for garments that are made to meet their specific needs, whether it’s providing UV protection, or small pockets for tees and extra balls. As far as the fabric is concerned, mercerised cotton remains to be the preferred fabrication for golf shirts.
One such technical fabric, Sensor Cool, is used in the Ping Collection golf line offered by Miami based Perry Ellis International. As the body heats up, the pores in the fabric expand allowing extreme breathability and as the body cools, the pores contract and store the body heat, like a natural radiator for the body. Leading manufacturer of golf apparel, Dunbrooke Apparel Corp. also report a growing demand for performance features in the golf wear.
Nike Golf initiated the use of technical fabrics in golf fashion by introducing elements such as moisture management, dimension of stretching, sweat zone ventilation, evaporation and airflow, lightweight compression for range of motion, and more. Dri-Fit which was initially developed for running at Nike Inc, is a performance fabric that is lightweight and less restrictive. Dri-FIT fabric helps in keeping one comfortable and dry by moving perspiration from your skin to the outside for rapid evaporation. The process transfers perspiration through layers of fabric as the body produces moisture, these layers carries the moisture through the garment and up to the outside layer. From there it is dispersed across the outer surface and released into the air. Nike added UV protection to prevent sunburn through the fabric to enhance Dri-Fit technology. It also improved the original Dri-Fit by adding a new dimension of stretching capabilities that enabled a greater range of motion.
The recreational and professional golf industries can also serve as a very lucrative market for any embroiderer. To become a sought-after embroiderer for this unique market, one has to demonstrate the ability to create clean and crisp logos on apparel such as pique knit shirts, sweaters, terry cloth towels and headgear.
Although mercerised cotton is a hot commodity, it also proves too ‘hot’ to wear in certain situations. While they are appropriate for the executive in the office, mercerised polos do not breathe and are not considered to be ideal golf shirts. In today’s competitive retail environment retailers are seeking bigger share in market by addressing customers’ needs, including the potential weather conditions to enhance sales.
The rising popularity of camp shirts is being considered as a unique alternative. The latest trend, however, is toward polo shirts made of a high-tech polyester blend designed to keep the body cool and providing a roomy and comfortable fit.
The golf shirt market is now crossing gender borders making a leap for the ladies segment. The importance of appropriate styles for the fairer sex can be emphasised. Women certainly don’t want to wear something that looks like a downsized men’s garment. Styles need to be feminine and fits need to be correct. According to the National Golf Foundation the sport attracts an average of 2 million new players each year in the U.S. Novice golfers are getting younger (almost 60 % are between the ages of 18 and 39) and more women are hitting the links for the first time (more than 38 % of the golf first-timers are women). A growing number of women see golf as a necessary business skill; an activity that serves as an effective networking and business development tool. Now that apparel makers have become more aware that women are a viable segment of the golf market, new lines of clothing are being created just for them.
Lady golfers, in recent years, made some of the most exciting golf news. Accomplished athletes capture the world’s attention through clothing endorsements. In the ongoing year, Annika Sorenstam will complete the second of two consecutive three-year deals with Seattle based Cutter & Buck. Thanks to the agreements, she has worn the company’s golf and lifestyle apparel exclusively for all professional golf tournaments, events and media appearances; created the Annika Collection, which includes pieces for on and off the course; and consulted with Cutter & Buck’s design and merchandising team on performance features and design innovations for the company’s women’s golf collections. Well-known designer names as Giorgio Armani, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren and La Coste have all added to their women’s golf offerings.
Teen phenom Michelle Wie announced in October that she is turning professional, is hot on Sorenstam’s heels not only on the golf course, but with corporate endorsements as well. Sources predict Wie will be donning all things Nike for several years to come.
With these golf celebs leading the way, one can expect to see styles created for the course making their way into women’s daily routines. Most women’s golf apparel is designed to cross over from business casual and leisure. It is also predicted that, as ladies’ apparel continues its explosive growth in the promotional industry, more golf-specific styles will emerge.
As golf apparel for women continues to increase dramatically, different trends prevail when comparing the purchasing and wearing habits of the two sexes. Women usually shop for their golf apparel at retail outlet, not in the pro shop. A man on the other hand will buy a shirt with the logo of his club or a course that he played which holds some sentimental value; women don’t prefer logos on their clothing.
According to Frank Hannigan of GolfObserver.com, though the general interest in golf peaked years ago and is now in decline, there is growth in the concept of golf apparel that is designed for multiple uses.
Based on fashion, form and function, this is one category that isn’t going away any time soon. For the most part, golf apparel is transcending the course and making its way into the business-casual environment and leisure settings. Golf wear is no longer an apparel which is worn only to the golf courses, but has also emerged as a favoured wear for workplace, weekends and life wear. Golf wear leader Ashworth has evolved into a lifestyle brand and wants to follow the customer from golf course to work, and through the weekend and travel. The company plans to provide its customers a clothing line that can be worn seven days a week.
Anatomy of a quality Golf Shirt
·Buttonholes -- Stitching should be clean
·Collar -- Should be balanced, not favoring one side, and seams should be taped
·Sleeves -- Set-in sleeves are best, seams should be straight
·Placket -- Should be reinforced and have quality stitching
·Tail -- Should extend beyond front of shirt
·Fabric, Pattern Direction -- Stripes should be straight, pattern consistent
Partha Anant
Client: Apparel Online
posted by Partha Anant @ 7:34 AM
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