Having managed to venture out of the office a bit this month, one of the things that has struck me is the apparent ease with which someone can set up a business as a garment decorator in the printwear industry. I say apparent because as you will all tell me, there is nothing easy about any business.

World’s first wearable magazine

A Swedish company has launched what it claims to be the world’s first wearable magazine.

Fashionistas and news junkies alike can subscribe to T-post to get thoughtprovoking current events printed on designer T-shirts.

For more information or to subscribe, visit www.t-post.se

A new federation for garment decorators supplying the retail fashion and promotional clothing sector has been launched to help boost standards in European industry and open up new opportunities for improved businesses practices.

Just eight weeks after releasing the floorplan for the Printwear & Promotion (P&P) Exhibition 2008, half of the available stand space has already been booked or promised.

Garment decorators and promotional companies should tap into the growing trend for reusable alternatives to disposable plastic bags, according to value bag brand Westford Mill.

The mounting pressure to reduce the use of disposable plastic shopping bags is opening the door to a growth in sales of decorated cotton shoppers said Westford Mill.

The Promotional Marketing Exhibition 2007, which took place in April, is being hailed a success by its organisers, with visitor numbers up 10% on the previous year.

Over 2,100 vistors attended the exhibition, which was home to 200 exhibitors, including manufacturers, distributors and service suppliers from the promotions, incentive and motivation sector.

Teamwear is to sponsor the 2007 SEAT Touring Car Team and SEAT Cupra Championship.

The company will design and manufacture all team clothing and merchandise, which is available through SEAT dealerships.

A new aluminium nozzle has been designed for a range of steamers aimed at helping companies achieve the best look for their garments.

Propress steamers, which use steam to instantly transform lifeless fabric into clothing that sells, now come with a unique die cast steam nozzle that the company claimed is only available with its steamers.

Pro-Ad Ltd, the North East-based promotional merchandise company, is celebrating 25 successful years in business.

Md Carlo Nardini, who established the company in 1982, said it had seen many changes over the years.

Faversham-based bespoke clothing specialist Lea-Ray Ltd has enhanced its long-standing relationship with Britain's oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, by developing a range of bespoke clothing.

Beezer has moved to new premises in Leicester as part of its ongoing expansion plans.

The larger premises enable the company to increase its stock capacity and offer a faster service.

Clive Smith of West Midlands-based A&J Designs has been named as one of 21 lucky winners of BTC Activewear’s recent competitions to win a mountain bike worth nearly £400.

The popular prize draw competition run by BTC Activewear in conjunction with the Hanes ‘10 colours/15 styles’ promotion, ran throughout three recent trade shows: the Printwear & Promotion Exhibition; Promota and Trade Only.

Reflecting this season’s acid brights trend, Epona has introduced a selection of vivid colours to its existing range.

New offerings for men and women include Azzuri blue, Mars red, Limelight yellow and Military green.

Epona also has an eye-catching Kelly green and Lipstick pink for women, plus classic black, white and navy.

Two attendees of the Printwear & Promotion Exhibition 2007 have become the lucky winners of a holiday, thanks to exhibitor RSK Tech and its new online garment designing tool.

Neil Herbert and Damon Larter of DNN Signs UK won a £300 holiday voucher after entering the RSK Tech prize draw during the event.

Do you go for the comfy shoes these days? Have you forgotten the last time you had a wild night out? Do you know all the characters in Casualty? Me too. It's mid-life creeping up. And it can be just as much of a passion killer in the workplace.

Setting up a business in the garment decoration industry is relatively inexpensive. A single embroidery machine, heat press or hand carousel print machine can get you set up and running in no time. In fact, research shows that there is currently little growth in the overall market, with 80% of the industry made up of small- to medium-sized businesses all competing for a larger share of the same sized pie.

Personalisation of clothing is a key requirement for developing strong brand images, a sense of belonging and corporate, school or club identity, says Blue Max Stag, which has a history of developing garments for this market.

Mantis World has recently bolstered its bespoke manufacturing capacity in order to bring the client a unique garment designed especially for a specific uniform, brand or campaign.

To cater for increased demand for bespoke ranges Beezer has established a Design-and-Make service – a department dedicated to handling customers’ specialist requirements. Garments can either be adapted from standard company designs or made as an entirely new product.

The Private Label Service (PLS) is the new brand name given to a bespoke, made-to-order, custom apparel manufacturing service, now available from a leading garment supplier in the promotional industry.

The service specialises in the manufacture of high value fashion T-shirts, sweatshirts and apparel, for retail and promotional campaigns.

We are all aware how much the Internet has changed our work life says Anders Rask, founder of RSK Tech Ltd. We use email to communicate with clients and suppliers, but we have also become used to finding relevant information on the web and purchasing cheaply and effectively from online shops.

Bespoke clothing is the fastest growing area for Teamwear, but also th0e area with the most challenges, says the company.

“More and more of our clients are asking about having a polo or team shirt made to their own colours,” it says. “Using our factories in Portugal, Turkey and China we can tailor an entire range to a client’s specific need.”

EthicStar offers an extensive bespoke service on both new and existing styles.

For 2007 EthicStar is offering the chess print zipper jacket on a bespoke basis as well as from stock.

UK Leisurewear plc has provided Bespoke solutions for its customers for many years and with over 15 years of experience within the distribution, manufacturing and promotions industries has developed strong links with many different manufacturing sources.

Ralawise has teamed up with Russell Europe to bring its customers the Russell Solution bespoke service.

The service can be found by logging onto www.ralawise.com. Once in the website, Russell Solutions can be located from the homepage. And once in the Russell Solutions area, customers can to build and produce garments to their very own design requirements.

Bella’s focus has always been on the needs of women. And what do women want? They want comfort, fit, and fashion. Bella’s new Sheer Rib styles (8701, 8705, & 8770) do exactly that.The Bella sheer rib is inspired by popular lightweight fabrics found in retail and is great for layering. A preshrunk cotton-spandex blend makes the mini rib fabric extremely soft and form-fitting and unlike anything else in the industry.

In the second instalment of her series considering the ethical aspects of the lifecycle of a T-shirt, Juliet Bacon of Epona compares conventional cotton farming with organic and examines some emerging eco-fabrics

Medallion, the new umbrella brand name for all sportswear lines in the Blue Max Stag portfolio, is well known throughout the trade, primarily for its heritage in the production of quality rugby shirts.

Whether it’s a school class, band or football team, activities are twice as much fun in a team, says Gustav Daiber GmbH, which offers its Club ’n’ School Now Collection – a new range of trendy team wear.

Designed to ignite passion and spirit from the moment you put it on to the end of the game - Finden+Hales believes its clothing should inspire the sportsman within.

Rugby World Cup fever is just around the corner, bringing with it not-to-be-missed opportunities to sell rugby-related supporters’ wear and souvenir apparel, says Fruit of the Loom.

The Henbury range lends itself well to many sporting activities, says Henbury: “A popular choice for sports such as sailing is the Classic Henbury Pique Polo Shirt, for instance. This teams well with the navy chino shorts (H605), which are Teflon coated for minimum care.

Whatever the sport or leisure activity, Kustom Kit says its latest Gamegear collection is perfect for personalising with club logos and represents unbeatable value in the team wear sector.

With sportswear increasingly influencing the high street, this season Mantis World presents a complete sports-inspired collection with the innovative high tech Stretch 360°™ fabrics.

PenCarrie stocks a wide range of high quality sportswear, covering everything from premium branded golfwear and cricket clothing to football kit and general sports and fitness wear.

From complete team strips to Lycra shorts; training tops to rugby and football shirts, Prestige Leisure UK can supply garments to suit all sports and team wear requirements. The distributor has introduced two new sports brands for 2007:

Watch the fitness fanatics arriving at a gym. Virtually all of them will have one thing in common: they’ll arrive carrying a bag. The same goes for footballers about to tackle a midweek five-a-side session or swimmers diving through the turnstiles at the local pool.

Result says its range of garments offers the highest degree of functionality, comfort and protection for almost any sporting activity from track to slope.

A selection of highly advanced fabrics has been used within the range from Tech3™ fleece through to Softshell.

Sportswear has a strong impact on leisurewear and street fashion and there are many potential sources of trend developments, says ST Leisurewear. These include thermoregulation, nano technology, the introduction of scent and more introductions of venting into garments - all of which are new influences on the designing of garments.

With such a wide array of sports being played at local club level nowadays, the potential business available to printers and embroiderers is evergrowing, says Ralawise.

Ralawise offers a wide range of garments from a variety of top brands which it says should cater for all sportswear requirements.

The UK is a huge sporting nation and the scope for football gear is enormous, whether solely for teamwear or for use as part of a sporting themed promotion.

UK Leisurewear exclusive Phase One launched four years ago to provide matching and coordinated teamwear and sports gear for men, women and children.

Under the umbrella term of workwear there is a category all of its own for companies whose dress policy needs to be more than purely functional – it needs to say something about the company. This is where corporatewear comes in – it's workwear that presents an image to the outside world. So for this reason, we're leaving out tabards, chef's whites and hi-vis jackets for another time and just concentrating on the image stuff.

Continental Clothing director Philip Charles gives his account of the birth of womenswear in the promotional garment industry

It’s hard to believe today, but only 12 years ago there was no such thing as a women’s wear sector of the promotion garment industry. The multi-brand garment distributor’s catalogues were not overflowing with a bewildering variety of women’s styles, and in fact all you could really buy were unisex T-shirts.

A fashionable bag is the ideal indispensable women’s fashion accessory that will boost sales to womenswear customers, says Bagbase. Whether it is for a trip to the beach, an afternoon of retail therapy, a social event after work, or a night out on the tiles, a stylish shoulder bag is de rigueur.

Buying clothes for the garment decorating industry is no longer about unisex clothing and unflattering styles, says Blue Max, whose range of women’s garments were well received at the Printwear & Promotion Show earlier this year.

The current BTC Activewear portfolio of womenswear has increased by over 40% this year, and features not only market-leading brands like Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Hanes, Jerzees and Regatta but also many exclusive brands to offer the imprint trade a comprehensive choice.

Gustav Daiber GmbH presents its fashion-focused new summer range for women with the James & Nicholson collection, the specialist in promotional wear.

Womenswear is a huge part of the promotional and corporate wear industry, but it is often difficult to balance fashion with practicality, especially when having to provide plain garments.

As the number of corporate and promotional wear options specifically for women has increased dramatically over recent years, Kustom Kit says it has helped shape this market sector by creating an innovative and stylish collection for corporate women.

Fruit of the Loom is inviting customers to ‘get into shape’ this summer with its new Lady-Fit Rib Polo and Strap T. The two styles are the latest additions to the company’s Lady-Fit range, which now covers everything from valueweight T-shirts, through polos and sweatshirts, to jogging pants and microfleece jackets.

Today women want (and are demanding) to wear women’s clothes that are designed for, shaped for and tailored for women, and fashion plays as much of a role in this decision making process, says Henbury.

Mantis claims to be the only promotional clothing brand that’s run by women, owned by women, designed by women and made by women. To reflect the latest high street trends, this summer Mantis’s styles feature high quality, flattering fabrics and eye catching fashion details.

The demand for ladies wear is greater than ever, says Prestige, with customers seeking products designed to flatter a woman’s shape, with feminine colours and fashionable looks. Many suppliers offer garments in their ranges with matching men’s and women’s styles.

Demand from women for clothing that is stylish and flattering has seen the number of garments in the womenswear sector increase dramatically in the last couple of years.

Traditionally ladies have been forced to endure a “one size fits all” scenario as far as promotional leisurewear is concerned. This is no longer the case with the Result Clothing Company’s extensive La Femme® range of ladies wear.

New for Regatta Promotional and Corporate wear is the Women’s Parisa fleece. The 280 series anti pill Symmetry fleece has two zipped lower pockets, adjustable shockcord hem and a shaped foot to provide a more feminine look.

A female fitted polo shirt in a choice of colours to suit every mood or outfit; ladies’ shirts in a range of sleeve lengths (plus the opportunity to wear cufflinks) and female sizing in workwear – these are just some of the key elements in the Jerzees Colours, Russell Collection and Russell Workwear portfolios.

When it comes to womenswear, Skinnifit says it looks at all aspects of what women want in terms of fit: from length to the type of trim at the neck. Even with co-ordinating male/female garments, it’s not merely a case of making the men’s garment a little bit bigger or vice versa, says Skinnifit. It’s all about ensuring that the wearer gets the optimum fit from the style: whether it’s a tighter fitting T or the new, looser-fit sloppy-jo’ jumper.

For many years women had to suffer the indignity of the unisex polo and unisex T shirt, as garments specifically designed for them were still considered a niche market, says UK Leisurewear.

The Continental Clothing Company has come a long way since it began in 1995 as a one Tshirt UK-based firm called Hardwear. Today, the wholesale blank T-shirt brand has a worldwide presence and over 1,800 combinations of T-shirts and sweatshirts to choose from.

Originally formed in 1958, PROMOTA is a trade association representing manufacturers, importers and distributors in the rapidly expanding promotional merchandise and advertising gift trade.

PROMOTA has launched a revolutionary new member benefit that it says can save time and money for simple print jobs.

PROMOTA Studio provides a fast and easy service whereby artwork can be sent in any basic format – i.e. sketch, scan or low-resolution – which can then be converted into a high quality EPS vector file ready for printing.

In an age where technology rules, a company website can be the most powerful selling tool for a business, be it a supplier of sport merchandise, a garment decorator or a T-shirt manufacturer.

“I'd like you to discuss this with my agency.” Do those words from a prospective client cause a pound of lead to settle in your stomach, or are they music to your ears? Paul Clapham explains how to use agencies to your advantage

Can promotional clothing be the winning formulae for a promotion’s longevity? BPMA board director Liz Karn, who has worked in the promotional clothing industry for the past 28 years, investigates

The British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) has appointed Gordon Glenister as Director General.

Glenister has worked extensively in the industry for more than seven years and has expertise in sales, marketing, and team building. As managing director of 1st Incentives Ltd, he has specialised in promotional gifts, loyalty programmes, hospitality, event management and team building.

I've seen her on fire; stood alone at night and wondered at all the switches valves and wires; watched her lying idle, not a single job to do and wished she'd pay her way – and then seen the monster awake, hissing and banging at speeds that would blow Fred Dibnah's cap clean off.