We're a bit like a family; our brands are different in many ways but the same in others. Different in the fact that they cover promotional wear, school wear, workwear and corporate wear markets but the same in that they reflect our overall outlook on life and the things that are important to us.

Being around since 1902 means we've got some traditional values that keep us right, it also means we've learned what works.

Made the Russell way

Everyone talks about quality today and everyone expects it; we're no different here. When we talk about our values and the things we believe in, quality is the word we keep coming back to, our reputation is built around it. We like to say that all our garments have quality built in, but what does that actually mean?

Yes, things have to look good and be well made - all our garments are both. But there are more things that make up real quality and we believe you've got to get them all right, from design, performance, decoration, production and testing. We're constantly testing at every stage from fabric and prototype development, right through to production approval. Then we continue testing throughout manufacture, before it leaves the factory and once again before we send it to our customers. Quality doesn't just happen overnight.

Ways we are trying to help you

Our focus this year has been around providing you with some tools to help you sell more and grow your business. We have produced a suite of leaflets and A6 booklets across product ranges for all our brands. And to support this direct mail, we have also produced pre-designed emails, ready and waiting for you to upload your logo, message and contact details and send out to existing or new customers. To view and download all this material, please visit www.russelleurope.com or any brand website and click on Marketing.

We also launched a range of jackets this year; combining true performance with style. To help you get to know our jackets a bit better, we have produced a new Jacket brochure due out the beginning of August. It comes with a difference; instead of it being based simply around product and features, the information and imagery we have used helps you choose the right jacket for your customers and identify potential new customers more easily.

The brochure is also structured in a way that places the jacket range into three, easily identifiable categories; Entry Level, Softshell and Sportshell and Technically Advanced. 

To download your free jacket brochure, visit www.jerzeescolours.co.uk/jackets. To request hard copies of the brochure, please contact your usual supplier.

New fabrics

Everyone loves new fabrics but really they are only useful if they serve a purpose and do a job. Our new Ultimate Non Iron shirt range from Russell Collection does just that. Using the latest fabric technology the raw fabric is treated with special vapours before it is finished, plumping up the fibres. The fibres are then left to dry in this wet state for over 24 hours resulting in the non-iron technology being completely embedded and absorbed into the shirt fabric, rather than coating it. Therefore, wash after wash, your customers not only get the same, long-lasting non-iron result but have a shirt with the luxurious feel of 100% cotton.

New fits

Our new Ultimate Non Iron shirts are also available in two men's styles; Ultimate Non-Iron (956/957) and the Tailored Non-Iron (958/959). The key difference is that the tailored option has a stiffened, semi-cutaway boned collar to support the tailored fit.

Alan T Dibble, Design and Development at Russell comments: "Our development of the Non Iron Shirt range has been influenced by trends apparent in suiting over the past few years. The tailored look is visible everywhere and our new shirts allow companies to create that crisp, clean and modern image very much in demand."

Our Jerzees Colours brand also follows this lean, tailored theme with the introduction of the new Jackets range; true performance and styling combined.

Dibble comments: "We have seen an increasing move towards active, performance jackets with a lean and styled fit. Our jacket range brings you fabric with the best performance attributes combined with true styling."

Ethical business is good business

Everyone's talking about the environment these days. We've been talking about it since 1997 when we received our Öko-Tex Certification. Öko-Tex is an internationally recognised testing standard which ensures none of our manufacturing processes put people or the environment at risk, and the people who make our garments mean just as much to us as the people who wear them.

We're also one of the founders of WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production) and we ensure all of our manufacturers to be WRAP accredited so that our customers can have a clear conscience when they choose Russell. Unlike a lot of ethical policies this one is totally independent because it's implemented and policed by a third party.

For more information on Russell Europe please visit www.russelleurope.com, telephone 01506 502000 or email marketing@russelleurope.com. For more information on the Russell Solutions bespoke service visit www.russellsolutions.eu.com/e-textile