Buyers Guide – Clothing
Competitive sailing is gearing up for one of its biggest years ever. From the Olympics off Marseille to the America’s Cup in Barcelona, and the Vendée Globe, it’s all going off. That means that there is a strong racing flavour to this year’s new technical clothing. And yet, there has still been space to launch some cruising lines as well.
It’s been a very big year for Henri Lloyd, which has returned to serious marine clothing after five years in the desert. New ownership by Norway’s Monte Rosa Sport Group, with Olympian and Volvo Ocean Race veteran Knut Frostad on the board, has returned the brand’s technical focus. It is busy opening new shops and getting its gear back into chandler’s across the UK’s yachting hotspots.
Green water gear
Henri Lloyd’s gear was always technically good, even when the focus was more on fashion and photo shoots, but in late March the freshly invigorated brand is relaunching a number of lines to underscore its intent. The top-of-the-range O-Race offshore gear has reverted to the name Elite (as it was before the recent hiatus), and various details have been