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London Cycle Show
London, UK, October 13-16, 2005
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Part 3 - Clothing from Rapha, Foska, Endura & Sugoi
Clothing made up a big part of the Cycle 2005 show. A stage at one end of the huge exhibition centre featured a regular twenty minute fashion show modelling the latest products of Nike, Adidas and Gore Bike Wear to name but a few. As well as the multinationals there are several great - and up and coming - British brands launching some new and innovative products.
Rapha
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Rapha have only been in the cycle clothing business for just over a year, but have already carved themselves a niche at the very top end of the market. At Cycle 2005 they launched some winter products based around the already successful retro-styled sportwool range (as featured in New Arrivals - Sept 8th).
Their stand was dominated by their original 1940s Citroen H Van “broom wagon” - used as an official race vehicle in the Tour of Britain last month.
The merino training top is a two-ply merino wool jersey featuring a classic cycling collar and ribbed cuffs. It is designed to be worn just before or just after a ride, or as a warm layer on cold days. Apparently, the teeth on the swiss made zips are polished for six hours to ensure they slide smoothly! The long sleeved merino shirt is a long sleeved version of the successful off-the-bike summer shirt, it’s based on the design of a 1957 racing jersey with front pockets and collar. Both jerseys are made in Scotland from extra fine Italian merino wool and feature stories about Swiss legend Hugo Koblet - one of the Rapha company’s heroes.
Also being launched is a new Rapha range, aimed at people to wear on their bikes and then wear all day. The new range named “Fixed” is made to a similar exacting quality as the race clothing, but more suited to urban riding. The range features a merino wool jersey - with a more generous cut, full finger leather gloves based on their existing Grand Tour racing gloves, and tailored “shorts” available in 3/4 and full length in water and stain resistant Scholler fabric.
Foska
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Foska is another quintessentially British company. They’ve been producing quality jerseys for less than three years but are already unmistakable in the bunch. Their popular series of flags and great British brands has been extended, recently adding Heinz Baked Beans and Colman’s Mustard to the Irn-Bru (Scottish fizzy drink), London Pride (English beer), A to Z (street maps) and the iconic Marmite “Hate Jams” jerseys (no plans to produce a Vegemite one anytime soon!)
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They’re also adding to their long sleeved training jacket range, the “Pirate”, Beans and Mustard jackets complementing the existing “Bones” one (the Pirate and Bones jackets are printed in hi-viz Reflec ink - imagine being confronted with that in your headlights!).
As well as the great range of jerseys, Foska also produce a range of matching bottles so you can remain co-ordinated at all times.
Endura
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Scottish manufacturer Endura have been working hard on their outerwear range - nobody knows about rain better than the Scots! They are launching a new extreme weather jacket in the latest eVENT breathable waterproof fabric, claimed to be lighter and more responsive to temperature change than Gore-Tex.
Like many other clothing manufacturers Endura are experimenting with the sonic welding of fabric instead of stitching. no products are available as yet, but a prototype pair of shorts is on display at the Eundura stand.
Also on display are some new overshoes - one pair for road, one for off road - that look like their designed for riding underwater!
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Sugoi
Catching the eye at Canadian manufacturer Sugoi’s stand was their new “sushi” jersey. A polka dotted affair featuring various maki and nigiri, this will be a must for the Tokyo cafe stop!
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk
- Foska's colourful stand of branded cycling gear.
- Rapha clothing's famous old van that features on many of its products.
- Endura's super-lightweight, high-performance jacket.
- No cold feet with Endura's overshoes.
- Endura's Event Jacket.
- Boys and girls dancing in Troy Lee Designs outfits.
- Gore bike wear modelled at the fashion show.
- Gore bike wear modelled at the fashion show.
- The girls bring a bit of glamour to the show.
- Lovely clothes at the Cycle Show.
- Gore looks good at the Cycle Show.
- Speechless...
- Mustard anyone?
- Speechless again...
- Dancers at the fashion show.
- Going retro with Adidas at the fashion show.
- Just off for a cold shower.
- Sugoi's Sushi design shirt in the fashion show.
Images by Mark Sharon
- Sugoi's designer wear on the catwalk.
