FIELDREPORT Ultimately, every
garment in Ping Apparel’s autumn/winter 2015 range is a statement of intent that there should be no trade-off between weather protection and golfing performance
highly breathable, seam-sealed and cut for golf,” Birkhead continues. “This type of lightweight highly packable product is very on trend in areas outside golf, where outerwear is very much performance driven.”
Zero Gravity weighs just 260g (jacket) and 190g (vest) and will retail at £150 and £120 respectively.
Three garments stand out from AW15’s red-spotted, Sensor Warm midlayer product. The cotton/merino wool Benedict jacket features a woven polyester overlay on the front of the jacket for good wind resistance, plus a water resistant finish, and will retail for £90. Orbital II (£70) is a full-zip jacket, with stretch fleece on the back and down the sleeves, and wadding on the front to highlight thermal properties. Also looking strong is the Garner lined sweater, a cotton polyamide merino wool blend, 14-gauge knit fully lined with a water-resistant finish. It comes in black, navy and smoke marl. Despite the drive to innovate, AW15 is not all new. The entry-level Osborne jacket has been retained, as has Nelson, a short sleeved half-zip top with good stretch properties. Other familiar faces are the Belgrave jacket, a carry-over from SS15, and the popular Typhoon trouser. Interestingly for an AW range, there are no fewer than 15 styles of polo shirt on offer in the Sensor Cool platform, with four new styles added including the £55 tailored Lars. “We’re launching from around 1 August so we feel polos are still relevant,” Birkhead argues. AW15 will see the addition of some cotton blends here, “to cater for the golfer who likes that feel,” Birkhead adds, though being a blend, you can still expect a raſt of technology including smart moisture movement and UPF50 treatment.
Right down to the Hartnell, a merino-wool
base layer that eases up on the compression element, AW15 features 44 styles for the men. Colour schemes are Portobello (mulberry, black, grey and camel) Heritage (Black, navy, rich red and white), Horizon (deep blue, black, silver and lime twist) and In the Mix (silver, white, sea blue and deep lilac).
Meanwhile, given Ping’s association with the ladies’ game, cemented through the Solheim Cup, it is perhaps not surprising female apparel options have broadened since being brought in- house. Featuring the new logo found on the Rhapsody range of hardware and soſtware, AW15 consists of 31 separate garment styles in two colour schemes of Aſternoon tea (mocha and black) and Bouquet (cranberry and black). Set to star is the Olivia suit, a dual-layer laminate construction with a soſt touch and excellent stretch and breathability. Its clean, feminine cut is enhanced by touches like adjustable Velcro cuffs and hem draw cord. On the Sensor Dry platform and boasting a three-year waterproof guarantee, Olivia will retail for £90 (jacket) and £75 (trouser). Ping also have high hopes for Nikita, a Sensor Warm garment which is something of a hybrid between a sweater and a jacket. Full-zipped and featuring more of the brand’s zonal construction, Nikita is water-resistant and insulated to the front and back, while the stretchable sleeves ensure golf performance is typically prioritised.
Ultimately, every garment in Ping Apparel’s autumn/winter 2015 range is a statement of intent that there should be no trade-off between weather protection and golfing performance. Even the men’s and women’s socks, a merino wool product created through a partnership with American specialists Point6, feature mesh inserts, heel and underfoot cushioning and a moisture- movement system designed to eliminate blistering.
Impressively styled and highly technical, the range makes a compelling proposition – though it is perhaps a shame there is as yet no tie-in between apparel and hardware as regards trade terms. “Distribution is key to our future success, and if you compare hardware distribution to Ping Apparel’s, it’s clear we have a lot of work to do in terms of leveraging those relationships,” Birkhead concedes. “There’s no reason why hardware stockists should not be the right partners for Ping Apparel. “But it is still early days for us. SS15 was a success, and the pre-book signs for AW15 are good. We’re determined to give our clothing the reputation our hardware has earned… and we believe this new collection will set that process in motion.”
SGBGOLF 15
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44