If I was to pick a buzz word of the moment it would almost certainly be ‘mass customisation' (okay, that's two words, but you know what I mean). The point is, everyone I meet lately seems to be talking about it, and not just in this industry, but across other UK manufacturing sectors as well.

Environmental measures could be the answer to combating the downturn, according to new research, which shows that waste prevention, using less raw material and energy recovery will be crucial to saving UK companies money in the face of economic recession.

The British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) is moving its annual awards dinner to the Trade Only National Show from January 2009. 

Several new exhibitors have been confirmed for next year's Printwear & Promotion Exhibition, which again takes place at Birmingham's NEC from March 1 to 3.

BPMA launches own TV channel

In conjunction with Cre-8 multi media the BPMA has extended its reach to include a new TV channel - www.promotionalsuccess.tv

BTC activewear is set to move into a stunning new state-of-the-art Distribution Centre by the end of the year - and what a home it's set to be!

Bag and leather goods manufacturer Shugon has introduced several new products to its range.

Workwear specialist Mascot has developed a new range of multi-functional underwear with bamboo.

Printed and embroidered garment wholesaler Fanela has increased its embroidery output by 25% thanks to four brand new Tajima machines from AJS Embroidery Services.

Lanzarote may not immediately spring to mind as somewhere you need to wear a hoodie but for the four members of the Just Hoods by Awdis team, they were the ideal kit choice to wear before and after the Ironman Lanzarote race earlier this summer.

Roland DG Corporation has developed new software designed to meet the needs of custom apparel and gift shops.

The STAG Buying Group, which has some members in the printwear and promotional industry, claims to be continuing its upward trend in the UK market as its members' sales neared £200M at retail.

The Hooded Top Co has managed to hold the price of its 300gsm Hooded Top, despite the pressures which are pushing prices up elsewhere in the industry.

In what they claim is an industry first, Corel Corporation a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, and Wilcom International, a leading developer of embroidery and decorations technology, used a global online event to launch the newest products from their partnership.

James & Nicholson  has launched several new casual wear styles for autumn.

The Team Sweat Jacket (JN 175) features colour blocking, a wide stripe on the chest and narrow stripes on the sleeves, with two practical side pockets.

"I wanted to show that the corporate wear, promotional wear and school wear markets could have the best quality jackets available," said Papini CEO Gary Fisher. "So inside the garments, our three new styles say:

WATERPROOF
BREATHABLE
WINDPROOF

"So, you have a garment personalisation business and have been successfully providing personalised leisure, sports and workwear garments for many years. But have you ever considered expanding into the sign industry?

Part of what differentiates Epona from most other promotional clothing manufacturers is that we manage the whole production process and develop the garment right through from seed to shirt," says marketing manager Juliet Bacon. As Epona's key sales person, Antony Wilson is responsible for informing screen printers, merchandisers and other B2B customers about the story behind our products, and as such he feels his visit was hugely beneficial.

It's me against the world. What small business owner doesn't feel like that from time to time? Indeed, being in control of your own destiny, responsible for all your successes and directly involved in all aspects of the business is why we set up alone. But it can get lonely, especially if the manure hits the air-conditioning unit.

With its bright pink new logo and modern fingerprint design concept, the image of prism - the association of print specialists and manufacturers - bears little resemblance to its former days as the DSPA. But the association has been given more than just a facelift - there are greater changes afoot, all of which are desingned to help it better serve the needs of its members, including those involved in textile printing.

Blue Max Stag is now one of the largest suppliers of schoolwear lines in the UK to the garment decorating industry. A huge variety of lines are on offer, most of which are kept in stock at the warehouse. 

BTC activewear offers a wide choice of popular schoolwear brands, including Jerzees Schoolwear, Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Regatta and Result.

In addition to stocking workwear and leisure ranges, the Co-operative Clothing also stocks an extensive contemporary range of structured styles to enhance a complete uniform service for easier one stop shopping.

Gustav Daiber's special Club 'n' School Now Collection offers cool promotional clothing for school and leisure wear, while the James & Nicholson range offers several new products for children.

Fruit of the Loom says it has everything you need to run a successful school uniform campaign at any time of the year. As well as a comprehensive selection of tried and tested modern school uniform styles - catering for nursery and reception age children up to A Level students - the company provides a portfolio of marketing tools that help you to drive up your school wear sales.

Henbury says its Children's Pique Polo Shirt (H459) would be a great addition to any school uniform.

Jill Granger, Director of distributor I.S.Enterprises highlights the current schoolwear range: "The F63417J Polo 65/35 is a popular choice as it is available in a range of suitable schoolwear colours. It is guaranteed to perform at a 60° wash which is perfect for all the messy activities that children take part in, and also features a sewn-in spare reinforced shoulder seams and taped neckline, offering increased durability," she says.

When it comes to selecting a supplier there is no one element that will single out one from another, says Jerzees. "Quality is not enough without choice, choice not enough without a strict ethical code etc. With Jerzees Schoolgear we tick all the boxes that we believe to be fundamental to enable our customers to provide schools with the best service and from which to build a solid and sustainable relationship: quality, ethics, choice, stock accessibility and the Jerzees Schoolgear Pledge."

AWDis, creator of Just Hoods, claims hoodies are now making inroads into the schoolwear market, despite all the bad press they've had.

The Larkwood Baby and Toddler Collection offers garments that are styled softly and made out of comfy, wearable fabrics with little details to make them extra special.

Nowadays, sustainable schools have sustainable development as part of their underpinning ethos, which helps to prepare young people to live in a world where changes in our environment and limits on natural resources require different attitudes, skills and behaviours, says Okarma.

In these uncertain times it is good to know that schoolwear is still a huge and stable market, says PenCarrie. At the same time the company warns that there is no room for complacency, not least because our industry's hold on this important sector is under constant threat from supermarkets and other retail chains. 

Schoolwear has always been a highly competitive sector for our industry, says Ralawise, and quality, durability and style are important aspects to help keep kids feeling comfortable every day. Ralawise offers schoolwear from a range of brands that use technologies to ensure uniforms will maintain their smart look throughout the year. 

Regatta says its reputation for ‘superior garments at excellent value' does not stop at its adult ranges. The success of its Kidswear range is attributed to the application of its knowledge and resources acquired from the company's retail experience in the outdoor market.

The new brochure is now available for customers to order. Packed with new photography, product information and availability charts, it will provide an essential guide to the expanding Rowlinson portfolio of products.

Schoolwear represents an important product range for most garment decorators and is often a core business for many. With many schools now preferring to source their uniform from a local supplier, there has never been a better time to review the schoolwear selection and the many brands available from UKL.

The WH9B Children's V-Neck Sweater from Whytes has proved its worth year after year and remains first choice for many schools who prefer a more traditional uniform for their pupils, says the company.

With an increasing choice of products and brands now available, there is no question about the growth of the childrenswear sector for the imprintables market, says Mantis World md Prama Bhardwaj. Here she talks through the company's range of baby and kids clothing and explains the needs and considerations of this growing market.

I wanted to write this article, because its an important issue for many within the promotional merchandise and clothing industry.

The UK's first qualification for the promotional industry has achieved almost double its planned target, with over 75 starting the course in September. 

Since their introduction a few years ago, direct-to-garment (DTG) inkjet printers have come a long way. Initially considered something of a novelty, DTG printers have now become the core of many garment decoration businesses. In addition, many screen printers, embroiderers and promotional product suppliers have added direct-to-garment printing to their business, significantly broadening their product offerings and adding substantial profit to their bottom line.

DTG and supplier YES (Your Embroidery Services Ltd) are continuing to develop new technologies in the digital printing arena. And despite the market being relatively young, they have just launched two new developments - WIMS and solvent ink.

Digital textile printing materials have progressed considerably in recent years. Today's printable films on offer from Grafityp UK provide more choice and the ability to produce full colour detailed graphics easily with the aid of a digital printer and heat application press.

Is digital printing really the future?

When we ask ourselves whether digital textile printing is the future of garment decoration, the answer is undoubtedly a resounding yes. Two of the major phenomena of our immediate history that stand out from all others are the digital revolution and the internet-fuelled craze for personalisation and social networking. 

M&R's i-Dot brings turnkey digital technology to textile printing, combining four white cartridges with a CMYK cartridge system for both light and dark garments. Not only is i-Dot designed to maximise speed, versatility, and productivity in short-run printing, each unit ships with a dedicated personal computer to ensure compatibility.

The Brother GT 541 Garment Printer is the most established in the market plac,e having entered the niche market of direct to garment printing some four years ago in the USA, claims GS UK.

TheMagicTouch continues 2008 with more image transfer innovation covering many aspects of garment decoration.

P&P: Is direct-to-garment (DTG) the future of textile printing?

RH: DTG clearly has an important role to play, but it's unlikely to supplant screen printing.

As a trade association it is important for Promota to set a good example in terms of customer relations. Not only do we need to maintain good relationships with our members, but we also need to promote this attitude to our members so that they can provide high-quality service to their own customers. It is essential that Promota continues to emphasise the message that good communication is key to good customer service. 

Promota member Promark Business Gifts says it is dedicated to good customer service. Founded in 1988 by Janice and Phil Ball, the company has a wealth of experience in the business gift industry and knows all about the importance of high-quality customer relationships to retain old business and attract new customers.

Following the acquisition of the Stag Knitwear Group, Blue Max Stag is now one of the leading providers of school knitwear to the trade printing industry.

The BTC Activewear 2008 product range has expanded to include a diverse collection of fleeces.

A fitted sporty unisex hoody in the company's Flex Fleece fabric, now available in kid's sizes.

Gustav Daiber's knitwear and fleece offer fashionable colours and high-quality finishing, as well as protection against the cold.

Finden+Hales is all about teamwork, and realises that with the unpredictable British climate, outside activities are prone to taking a hit when the wind picks up or the snow starts to fall.

When Fruit of the Loom launched its range of microfleece jackets in 2004, the company expected the new, lighter weight garments to supersede its original Fleece jackets, possibly replacing them altogether. As it transpires, the classic Fleece styles are performing better than ever, with the two types of outerwear complementing each other and helping Fruit of the Loom customers to maximise their outerwear sales.

With our current climate indicating we're already in the middle of our autumn/winter season, it's the time of year where we start to think about our outerwear options. Those whose main activities and responsibilities are outdoors need something that's practical and warm without being too bulky - and Front Row says its range of fleece style garments are perfect.

As the evenings are drawing in and the days are getting colder, we're all looking for that extra layer of protection against the approaching autumn and winter seasons. Henbury is well known for producing high quality garments for every season, and has a range of products to keep out the cold.

Colchester based corporate wear distributor I.S. Enterprises handles a variety of different clothing and apparel brands including, Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Jerzees, Kustom Kit and Result jackets and headwear.

As winter draws nearer now comes the time that we reach for that cosy workwear and wardrobe staple - fleece.

As the evenings are drawing in and winter approaches, it's nearly time to cover up and warm up, says children's wear brand Larkwood.

Knitwear has traditionally been a key seller for Ralawise in the workwear sector and it offers a number of knitted garments from some of the leading brands in the industry, from pullovers and cardigans to scarves, hats and golfwear.

The two totally separate categories of knitwear and fleece are well represented by PenCarrie.  Customer services manager, Andrea Charteris, notes that both sectors are thriving although at different levels and for different reasons. She explains: "Knitwear tends to have a more specific role while fleece is in much greater general demand. Knitwear's relaxed formality appeals to the corporate sector, particularly for office staff wear. Best quality lambswool sweaters are also popular as prestigious gifts at events such as golfing days. In contrast, fleece has much wider appeal and sells in greater volume as a result." 

Using Regatta's Symmetry and Thermal Balance fabrics, the large fleece range caters for every circumstance, says Regatta. The fleeces are quick drying and warm with durable, anti-pill finishes to retain the professional look and ensure comfort in all weathers.

Rowlinson has launched the Snowgoose2, its new reversible fleece. This natural step forward in winter wear means that Rowlinson can now offer even more protection from the elements.

Knitwear in some areas of industrial and general workwear continues to be as popular as ever, says RTY, the multi product workwear, high visibility and enhanced visibility clothing brand.

Skinnifit says it has a stylish range of garments for those "extra layer" days. The Skinnifit Sloppy Jo (SK090) is available in three versatile and flattering colours. "This scrumptious jumper has a flattering neckline and sleeves that are the perfect kind of long. Being 100% cotton, this all-natural jumper instantly makes you feel delightfully snug," says Skinnifit.

Specialist sportswear brand Tombo Teamwear understands how important it is to offer a range of sporting apparel to a cross section of sports clubs, associations and work places.

While representing only a small part of the total UKL product offer, knitwear is still an important addition to the catalogue for 2008, and is available in both traditional and more contemporary styles.

"Mr Stephenson?" "Yes"
"Mr Paul Norville Stephenson?"
"Er... yes"
"Step out of the vehicle please sir, we are detaining you under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1974, will you follow us to the interview room?"

Such was my introduction to export, back in the day, attempting to cross the channel with a vanload of T-shirts.