Founded in 1994 by Roger McHugh, Beechfield operates from Bury, Lancashire, selling only via authorised wholesalers, which deliver on a next-day basis, more or less anywhere in the UK.

EthicStar is offering a new and dynamic urban wear collection for 2008. The urban skateboard and music inspired fashion is now being offered to the promotional and garment decorator industry. The company is offering from stock a high-end fashion collection, which could be further decorated to add value to the garment. "It's really about providing something new to garment decorators from the traditional plain standard tees," says the company's product manager.

Urban lifestyle is an amalgamation of urban and 'street' influences such as skatewear and pop culture, which have gone from haute couture into high street fashion, and now into the supply clothing industry. With the emphasis on youth culture, comfort and practicality these styles would often not look amiss on the high street. Garments such as hoodies, vests and cargo trousers arguably were all born of this urban lifestyle title.

James & Nicholson's Workbook 2008 contains a number of urban lifestyle trends, ranging from layer look T-shirts to hooded jackets.

Just Hoods by AWDis is one of the latest offerings on the urban lifestyle clothing scene. Available from three major distributors the brand reflects the continuing popularity of hoodies, despite their associated negative publicity, with the largest colour collection available, including all of the requirements of urban grunge and cool, in a single style in the UK.

RTY Enhanced Visibility claims to have found its own niche in Urban Lifestyle Clothing simply because of its different colour offering.

David Abrahams, marketing manager at PenCarrie, sums up urban lifestyle clothing and the opportunities for garment decorators when he says: "This is clothing that lets people show their individuality and love of life and it provides a constant stream of fresh sales opportunities as a result. Popular with those who put surf, sand and sea high on the agenda, the clothing is equally sought after by ‘townies' who like the way it combines funky fashion with a relaxed sporty look and makes them stand out from the crowd."

Urban Lifestyle Clothing is very fashion based and relies heavily on the youth market, for example colleges, universities and youth clubs, says Prestige.

"We've all heard about "urban lifestyle", but what on earth does it mean and how does it affect us?" asks Skinnifit.

"Urban lifestyle clothing - garments that are worn in an urban environment that are semiotic codes for the wearer's allegiances, memories or aspirations."