We've been busy
Posted by Gavin
If anybody has been wondering why we haven't done a posting recently, it wasn't because the work syndicate won the lottery [sadly but predictably]. It's actually because there has been so much going on - and most of it's been pretty interesting!
Of course when we say we've been busy, I am of course referring to those of us who don't work at the 'coal face' as it is pretty obvious - what with the Tideway Heads, The Henley Boat Races and The Boat Race itself either upon us or coming up fast - that life for the Production Team is inevitably going to be manic at this time of year. For a change though, those of us on the marketing and product development side - or lightweights as we are known - have actually been pretty busy as well and, for a change, we actually have a couple of things to show for it.
For starters there has been the new zephyr that we have been developing for Cambridge to wear in this year's Boat Race. Unlike Oxford - who elect to wear a suit [the Alpha this year] during the race - Cambridge traditionally wear a zephyr. When we first started supplying kit to Cambridge several years ago they were using a heavyweight cotton garment [basically a rugby shirt in disguise] which, not only being as far removed from a performance garment as it is possible to get, was actually a disaster waiting to happen. As soon as it got wet , your hand started to stick in the baggy fabric at the end of the stroke [couple that with challenging water - which is obviously rare on the Tideway[!] - and you can see the problem]. Over the years we have been gradually improving the design and fabric but this year we have - we believe - come up with the perfect garment. If you are you going down to watch the race in person, or simply watching it on the telly, you'll recognise it as a zephyr straight away and it's still one of the most understated garments we have ever made. But it's also one of the most technically advanced garments we have ever designed.
What makes it so special is the fabric. Developed and knitted specially for us [by a British mill - you know how we like to support British manufacturing] it is a unique mesh version of our Meryl Comp performance fabric. Lighter and with even more built-in stretch, it is possibly the perfect fabric for a zephyr. It's wonderfully comfortable and it breathes like nothing else we've ever come across - so it's no surprise that this year's Cambridge crew jumped at it. Originally envisaged as a one-off for the Race, it looks so good - and performs so well - that we are now looking at offering it properly [from April onwards]. It's called the Omicron by the way.
On top of that we have also produced the first of our new mini-brochures. A new concept for this year, the idea is that we give you some suggestions about a few garments that are particular suitable for specific events. For example the new Spring Training Camp brochure highlights the Alpha Suit, the very sort-after Reflex Vest and an Elite Shirt [which has had a make-over for 2008] along with a Hoody and Polo Shirt from our Clubhouse brand - all garments that, although very different, could be really useful when on camp. If possible, as we have with the Alpha Suit this time around, we'll also try and offer a discount on at least one of the garments. Importantly the brochure also contains the more mundane - although just as important - information about such things as 'when' you have to order by. We can guarantee that you're going to like the finished kit, what we can't guarantee is to get it to you for the event if you don't order it in time...
After Easter [hopefully in time for the next one] you will be able to download it straight from the website. In the meanwhile though if you would like to have a glance though the Spring Training Camp brochure, just give Adam [or Nick if you are in the north] a shout and he will bash it away to you. Even if you weren't originally thinking of getting any kit, it's still worth a gander [otherwise you might miss out on my description of a hooded top as the clothing equivalent of 'comfort food'...]. By the way, this year brochures are going to be produced for BUSA, Nat Schs, Summer VIII's, May's and, finally, Women's and Men's Henley. So it looks as though the 'lightweights' might be staying busy.
Obviously we are on a bit of a role at the moment. Who knows, we might even get round to writing the next bit of the website soon....
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