News
Uncertainty at Nickent ‘Scandinavian Sartorialism’
American manufacturer Nickent is reported to be heading for liquidation,
from Oscar Jacobson
but a spokesperson for the company’s UK operation has assured SGB Golf
that “the UK is unaffected”. This may be a late entry into the Spring Summer 2010 golf fashion market
Sole distributorship for Nickent in the UK and Ireland has been held by from Oscar Jacobson, but the popular Swedish brand has undergone a
County Kildare-based Phoenix Brands since Spring 2009, and while it is major overhaul behind the scenes during the
reportedly business-as-usual on this side of the Atlantic, US title Golf Week latter stages of 2009. The brand has a new
has quoted Nickent president John Hoeflich as saying: “Our bank has owner – Valedo Partners Fund – and a re-
refused to fund any future operations of the company … All of a sudden, 60 structured management team.
jobs are gone and who knows when they’ll come back.” “[With] a new owner and a new
After a rapid rise in golf from 2005 to 2007, Nickent launched the 4DX management team, it is our ambition to
Evolver driver at the 2008 PGA Show with great expectations, but the club – establish Oscar Jacobson as the first choice in
which came with an interchangeable shaft concept – failed to impress, and men’s fashion and golf wear in Scandinavia,”
Nickent sales subsequently suffered. proclaims Roger Tjernberg, Oscar Jacobson’s
www.nickentgolf.com; www.phoenixbrands.eu CEO. “It is wonderful to see cool guys who
base their style of clothes on self-distance and
humour. They are not always looking to fit in,
but instead like to determine the terms by which they are perceived. [This is]
Ecco raises Premium
exactly the feeling we wish to reflect, [which is] wholly in line with our core
values – style, personality and our heritage.”
Ecco is taking the production of exclusive golf shoes to a new level with “The theme of the spring collection is ‘The Scandinavian Sartorialist’”,
the introduction of a genuine limited edition shoe, the Premium 109. explains product manager Mats Pettersson. “It is based on three
The new shoe is the focal point of a crocodile leather product ensemble, cornerstones: the Italian art of tailoring; the Anglo Saxon textile heritage;
which is retailing at £2,000.00. And yes, the decimal point is in the right and the purer form of expression characteristic of the Scandinavian culture.”
place. In the UK, the Premium 109 will only be available at the Wentworth Pettersson claims the entire collection for Spring 2010 has been updated
Club in Surrey. and fully co-ordinated, featuring jackets, trousers, polos, shirts, knitwear and
Each pair of Premium 109 shoes will be numbered – one to 109 - and a collection of ties.
handmade to order, and the accompanying accessory package will feature www.oscarjacobson.com
crocodile leather luggage made from the same hand-selected hides as the
shoes, a platinum plate inscribed with the golfer’s name and shoe edition
number, shoe trees made from cedar and completing the set is a silk
Adams returns to trade
shoe bag.
“The main goal was to create the world’s best golf shoe, which connects Having spent much of 2009 serving as a house brand for the Direct Golf
to my desire as a designer to produce a perfect product,” says Dieter chain, Adams Golf has returned to the marketplace with the appointment of
Kasprzak, Ecco CEO and Premium 109 designer. “The technology behind newly formed distributor UK Golf Distribution. Adams was distributed by
these unique shoes is based on the knowledge Ecco has gained from Brand Fusion in the UK until February 2009, after which Direct Golf was left
working closely with scores of major champions … I then chose the most as the sole UK outlet for the Texas-based brand. Adams now joins the
exclusive materials in order to make this the perfect combination of Hotblade and Jaxx Junior brands in the UK Golf Distribution stable, the
function and style.” Manchester-based company recently started up by Phil Aitken.
www.eccogolf.com “The UK is by far the biggest market in Europe and it was important we
found the right team to take the brand to market and we believe we have
done just that,” says Marc Puglielli, director of international sales for
Adams Golf.
www.adamsgolf.com; www.ukgolfdistribution.co.uk
Crocodile feet: Ecco’s Dieter Kasprzak admires his creation
Back on the road: Phil Aitken and his new stock
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