The winners of this year's Printwear & Promotion Garment Decoration Awards were announced this week at Printwear & Promotion LIVE in Birmingham.

The show, now in its third day, in Hall 12, at the NEC, is topping last year's visitor numbers, with a 9 per cent increase on day two, compared with the same day last year. First day figures were similarly encouraging - up by 7 per cent on the first day last year.

Printwear & Promotion LIVE opened on Sunday (February 24th) with a record number of visitors flooding through the doors. The first day attendance of 2000 visitors represented a 7 per cent increase on day one last year.

The show, which runs from Sunday through to Tuesday (February 24-26) in Hall 12 of the NEC, Birmingham, is our biggest and best for many years, with more than 120 stands.

This year’s show is a total brand-fest, with all of the biggest brands in the industry on board, from Gildan, Anvil and American Apparel, to Fruit of the Loom, Hanes and Stedman, Continental Clothing, Regatta Professional, Henbury, Beechfield and the industry’s key distributors all showcasing their latest garments.

Anvil Knitwear, a leading manufacturer of socially and environmentally responsible apparel and accessories, has launched Shirt Scan, an iPhone application that allows retailers, brands and consumers to deliver multimedia content via apparel to their target audiences. Through the use of QR (Quick Response) codes applied directly on the shirt, label or hang tag, Shirt Scan can be customised based on brand, customer, retailer or campaign, delivering a unique consumer experience in the form of articles, photos, and videos.

For garment decorators who are faced with the prospect of ever increasing price rises, Blue Max Banner has some welcome news. With immediate effect, Blue Max Banner has reduced the price of its Champion T Shirt range by £0.15p against sizes and £0.10p against children’s sizes.  

 The reduction applies across the whole of the Champion T Shirt range.

Ralawise are introducing 10 new brands for 2011, including B&C Collection, Portwest, Surridge, Just Cool, Rhino, Result Headwear, Ashworth and SDL Trophies.

Russell, via its Jerzees Schoolgear brand, used The Schoolwear Show in October to showcase its new range of hoodies for 2013, while sportswear brand Spalding introduced the latest member of its One Team range.

Workwear clothing specialists Williamson-Dickie Europe Limited are sponsoring one of Scotland’s leading motor racing teams – Celtic Speed, which is competing in the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship.

‘Dickies’ is supplying the whole team, including drivers and pit crew, with protective clothing and accessories  consisting of coveralls, trousers, shirts, waterproofs, body warmers, boots and belts.

Debbie Eales visits the UKL Trade Show to find out what some of the brands and machinery suppliers are up to for 2011.

Russell is delighted to announce that a selection of garments from its schoolwear range, Jerzees Schoolgear, is now available from Knightsbridge’s most famous store, Harrods.

Leeds-based tailoring specialist, Skopes, has had fantastic results in the first quarter of 2011. After investing in an extra £1.2 million of stock at the end of 2010, sales have increased across the company by 33% in comparison to the same period last year.

There are three core divisions in the business – Corporatewear, Retail and Wholesale, which have all performed well.

News of the Royal wedding has been welcomed by industry body Promota. However, chief executive, Annette Scott, is urging caution over the use of photographic images of the Royals. 

Direct to Garment specialist, Resolute DTG Ltd has joined forces with Chameleon Ink. The alliance not only brings another popular brand of direct to garment ink into the Resolute line, it brings new equipment to the promotional market exclusive to Resolute.

GS UK have recently enhanced their supplies and consumables website which can be found at www.gs-ukdirect.com. It offers a complete selection of products for both embroidery and print customers.

Gunold embroidery threads and underthreads are available alongside scissors, needles, grid lock frames and a large range of backings and appliqué fabrics.

Schoolwear supplier David Luke are doing their bit to save the planet with their new Eco-Uniform school jackets for boys and girls. Hailed as a schoolwear first, the new jackets are made from 100% recycled, non-biodegradable plastic from drinking bottles, which would otherwise go to landfill. Compared to an equal quantity of traditionally manufactured oil-based fabric, the 100% recycled de/repolymerized material used by DavidLuke requires 84% less energy to produce it.

Regatta Professional have announced that their prices will be held until January 2011. The company have recently been through a period of change with a new logo and the introduction of the new technical and innovative X-Pro jacket range, their Workwear collection and a comprehensive offer of bags. 

Hanesbrands Europe GmbH, a leading European company for printable corporate clothing, is now operating under the new name Smartwares Printables GmbH. The British company, Hanesbrands UK Ltd, will bear the name Smartwares Printables Ltd. The change of name follows in accordance with the recent acquisition by Smartwares Holding.

Clothing brand Regatta has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2012. This is one of the UK’s most prestigious accolades for performance in business in the UK and overseas.

Beechfield, the promotional headwear brand, is now sponsoring up and coming golf professional, Tom Jones and as part of the deal, the 20 year-old will sport a variety of the brand’s logoed headgear at tournaments and practice days.

Stunning raised effect embroidery is now another garment decorating service available from Evolve Branding. This new process gives a richer, bolder almost 3D look that is particularly suitable for simpler designs and logos with strong definition, which due to the preparation and amount of stitching involved is best used on heavier based garments such as jackets and body warmers, as well as baseball caps and bags. It is not recommended for T shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies etc. 

Beechfield is sponsoring a gruelling fundraising trip to Mount Everest that could see the brand’s B181 Coolmax Sports Cap occupying the highest point on earth. 

To celebrate the St. James's Place Wealth Management Group’s 20th year in business, the company’s charitable arm – St. James's Place Foundation – is aiming to raise £500,000 through a sponsored 120-mile trek to Everest Base Camp, (following the route taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing in 1953), and a subsequent attempt on the summit. The money raised will be used to fund a multitude of projects that help children with special needs, and hospices.

Roland DG (UK) has confirmed that its facilities in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, are unaffected by the effects of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on March 11. Production, design and administrative offices at the company’s international headquarters are all working as normal, and no disruption is anticipated to manufacturing or delivery schedules.

Six new sector brochures are now available from distributor, Ralawise, each designed to appeal to specific target markets and create new business opportunities for customers.

Sectors covered are: management and hospitality, professional trades and workwear, sports and teamwear, essential schoolwear, outerwear clothing and a collection dedicated to the youth and higher education markets. 

The ‘Best Collection’ brochure includes a choice of garments and the most popular sellers from all sections of the main catalogue.

For more information call 0800 212 180 or email sales@ralawise.com

A major upgrade of the Blue Max Banner website is being planned for September. In response to customer demand, a new online ordering facility was added to the website last year. But the development plans are much more ambitious. The upgrade will integrate the Blue Max and Banner portfolios, as well as the Fashion division.  

Promotional products manufacturer, Listawood, has appointed Graham Winter as European sales director. Formerly managing director at PF Concept UK, Graham brings over 25 years of industry experience to his new role. 

Trutex Limited, one of the best known and long-established brands in the school uniform market, has acquired John Hall Schoolwear, a UK based specialist school uniform manufacturing business located in Rochdale, Lancashire. 

BTC activewear's joint managing directors, Glenn Hyams and Charles Grose, have stepped down after many years helping to build the successful multi brand distribution business.

Printwear supplier, Blue Max Banner, has agreed to buy the trademarks and business of the Snowgoose brand from Rowlinson Knitwear with effect from September 20, 2012.

Aachen-based Hanesbrands Europe GmbH, one of the leading companies in Europe for printable corporate clothing, together with its related company Hanesbrands UK Ltd, were taken over on May 29, 2012. The 100% subsidiaries of the US Hanesbrands Inc. corporate group have been sold to the Dutch consumer goods group Smartwares Holding. The new owner will continue to operate and expand Hanesbrands Europe GmbH and Hanesbrands UK Ltd, as an independent group. All staff members are to be retained and the company HQ will remain in Aachen, Germany.

UK leading trade-only promotional bag supplier Crazy:Bags has struck a unique alliance with global promotional bag manufacturer and specialist, Halfar. Since May 1, UK distributors now have unlimited access to the full range of Halfar products whilst working with a trusted and established UK based brand.

Gildan Activewear Inc has agreed to acquire 100% of the common shares of Anvil Holdings for a total purchase price of approximately $88 million. The acquisition will be financed by utilization of Gildan’s bank credit facility. Gildan will not assume any of Anvil’s currently outstanding indebtedness.

Blue Max Banner has announced the expansion of its Quality Control department at the head office in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. The new department increased from one member of staff to a team of three from March. The dedicated full-time personnel will report to Chris Whitby, commercial director.

MHM Direct GB are now an official UK dealer for Brother Digital Garment Printers and are offering the full range, including the all new GT-3 Series. This new series has been designed following five years of feedback from garment printers all over the world.

Stocks Sewing Machines have opened an Embroidery Academy in partnership with Embroidery Design Solutions, offering training on Wilcom products and embroidery techniques. Stocks are one of the largest UK independent suppliers of Industrial and commercial embroidery equipment. They are sole UK and Ireland agents for ZSK industrial embroidery machines for the UK and Ireland, and also supply the Brother PR range.

A new product has been added for 2012 under the DecoNetwork product umbrella. The DecoKiosk allows custom decorator to open a physical store virtually anywhere. Run on DecoNetwork as a platform, the DecoKiosk utilises DecoNetwork’s interactive Online Designer as well a powerful back-end allowing DecoNetwork users to centrally manage their products, payments and shipping instantly.

Roland DG (UK) has launched a new online forum, www.rolandforum.co.uk.  It has been designed as a meeting place to post questions, share ideas and exchange information. It is intended to appeal most to Roland customers, dealers and partners, but is open to all to browse, register and post. 

More than 50 products from three of Fujifilm’s Sericol screen printing textile ink ranges have been approved by the Soil Association Certification to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for use in organic textile processing.

The Co-operative Clothing has announced its arrival as an online retailer with a new website.

Since the acquisition of Banner 12 months ago, the Blue Max Group has implemented a number of changes as part of the integration process. The company has announced  further changes designed to improve the efficiency and standard of service to customers.

Specialist promotional bag supplier Crazy:Bags has announced it will now operate exclusively for UK and Ireland distributors as a trade-only supplier. Effective from September 1, the move comes as a result of extensive research by the company to understand the issues faced by promotional merchandise distributors and gift houses.

The printwear industry is mourning the loss of Mr Ikuo Tajima, 81, advisor of Tokai Industrial Sewing Machine Co Ltd, who passed away on June 13, 2011.

Result, the Essex-based outerwear and corporate clothing specialist, has scooped the Goodies d’Or 2011 award in the Corporate Attitude category at this year’s CTCO exhibition in Lyon, with its R190X Dax Down Feel Gilet.

TheMagicTouch has introduced some new and exciting additions to their already extensive range of MagiCut products for use in plotters and cutters.

Resolute Ink announces AJS Embroidery Services as its sole UK distributor for the R-jet 4 Digital Textile Printer and range of textile inks.

Williamson-Dickie Europe Limited, the UK based subsidiary of the world’s largest privately owned workwear company is expanding its Somerset warehousing and distribution facilities to 100,000 sq ft. The additional space will provide a 50% increase in storage capacity allowing greater stock availability and a faster, 24 hour delivery service to its customers.

Last September, eight Regatta staff took part in a challenge – to scale the four highest peaks in the Lake District – Scafell, Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and Skiddaw – in less than 24 hours. They completed the challenge in 17 hours and – together with Regatta’s generous charity matching scheme – raised £5,450 for charity.

The Workwear and Corporate Clothing Show 2011 brought together leading industry figures, buyers and sellers, to witness the latest innovations and to hear the future is strong for the sector. The two-day event at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, was sponsored by JAL Group and supported by some of the biggest names in the business including Pacific Brands, Incorporatewear and Dimensions.

High Profile, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of standard and bespoke plastic promotional products, has seen its sales figures grow by 23 per cent as it continues to generate new business wins as well as retain and renew existing contracts. 

Since the company’s start in 2006, sales have more than doubled, from £1.2 million to £2.7 million, with margins improving by almost 10 per cent in the last year alone.  

ETC Supplies have announced the launch of a new self lubricating backing. Available exclusively through ETC, it is widely used in the Far East for bulk production as it reduces many problems associated with embroidery on technical fabrics.

Andy Steavenson, director and founder of promotional bags stockist and distributor, Crazy:Bags, shares his thoughts on the cotton crisis.

Caterpillar – the world’s largest maker of construction and mining equipment – is set to launch a new range of CAT branded merchandise created by Brand Addition, the merchandise-led marketing communications specialist. Brand Addition has also created a dedicated online shop which will sell the Caterpillar merchandise.

Falk&Ross has announced the promotion of Jacqui Gale as their new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. Jacqui, previously Commercial Director with Falk&Ross, takes over from Helmut Wenzel, who will remain with the company as Chief Operating Officer.

The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation has been presented with a cheque for £6,500 from Result Clothing as part of their fundraising effort to help save endangered mammals in the wild. The money was raised through a percentage donation from the sales of Result’s Air Down range. David Shepherd is known internationally as an artist and ambassador for wildlife. In 1960 he become a conservationist overnight when he came across 255 zebra lying dead around a poisoned waterhole in Tanzania. His foundation has given away over £4million in grants to save critically endangered mammals in their habitat and benefit the people who share their environment.

BTC activewear is introducing the new Matrix Codes to give customers instant access to pricing and stock simply using your own phone. This is also supported by some of their stocked brands such as SG, bringing you consistent information with just one click.

Amaya Sales UK are opening an additional training and demonstration centre in Newark, Nottinghamshire. From there they will offer professional training on embroidery machinery and software to existing customers either as a refresher or for those wanting to advance their knowledge in embroidery.

ZSK sole UK agent, Stocks Sewing Machines, is celebrating a milestone having been chosen to supply its ZSK embroidery machines to Harrods of Knightsbridge. The Leeds based firm has installed a ZSK Sprint 5 Industrial Embroidery Machine in Harrods innovative Boot Room.

Embroidery expert Bonnie Neilsen has published a new book titled Punch – Digitizing for Embroidery Design.

Hatton Textiles International Limited, whose towelling products are woven for some of the worlds leading golf resorts, sports brands and retail labels, has signed an exclusive agreement with German manufacturer MOVE in order to fulfil a growing portfolio of unique and fashionable clients.

BTC activewear will distribute a selection of the four Mantis World brands from January 2011. The partnership means that BTC activewear will become one of the largest UK distributors of the Mantis World collection.Phil Roberts, national sales manager at BTC activewear, comments: “I am delighted that Mantis World has been added to our collection of brands. It offers a fashion-led range that will appeal to our customers and I know it will be very successful. The Humbugz and Babybugz brands are well recognized as the leading kids and babywear ranges in Europe and are known for their quality and trend-led designs.”

On Friday, October 1, 2010, at the Fort Worth Imprinted Sportswear Show (ISS), Luis Omar Viera of New Buffalo Shirt Factory used M&R’s new Challenger III and M&R’s Passport Automatic Unloader to set a new world record of 1909 shirts printed in one hour by a single operator. The Challenger III is distributed in the UK by D.Roper Ltd.

A team of fundraisers from Regatta have succeeded in climbing the four highest peaks in the Lake District – achieving their goal in just 17 hours and even managing to get back to Keswick for a celebratory drink before the pub closed!

Tesco is introducing a nationwide schoolwear embroidery service following a successful pilot earlier this year. According to Tesco, the service offers parents whose children need a bespoke uniform a “cheaper alternative to specialist suppliers”.

MASCOT Mini gave a family the chance to take a trip down memory lane. Dad, Paul Bennett, got a nice surprise when his sons, Joshua and Brodie, arrived in MASCOT Mini Workwear to help out at the family business Bennett Bros during the school holidays.

PenCarrie has unveiled its plans for a significantly extended programme of On Tour events to be held this November 2010. Eight locations have been selected covering Ireland, England, Scotland and, for the first time, Wales. Each event provides a privileged preview of all the new products and new brands that PenCarrie will stock for 2011, with brand representatives happy to share their expert knowledge of their merchandise.