A Day At Printwear Live!

Ten o'clock on a Sunday morning, when all right-thinking people are contemplating a second coffee and a bite of breakfast. So, why then did I find myself...here?

What madness is this? Wait, though, there's a clue, way off there in the distance. Time to do a CSI-style zoom and enhance...

Aha, now that makes a bit more sense. Guru Ian dragged me and Pier Mascot Ali along to Printwear Live. It's the one point of contact in the year for the clothes customisation industry to meet, network and maybe do a little business. All the big distributors and brands are here, so it's important for Pier32 to get in and touch base.

Hall 20 at the NEC (for yes, readers, we were on the outskirts of Birmingham, the Midland's shining jewel) is stuffed to the gunwales with huge stalls and marquees, offering a ton of new clothing ranges and customisation technology. We were all pleased to see that organics made a strong showing this year. Well, we would be. It's how we roll.

So a visit to Stanley Stella would always be first on the agenda. A new kid on the block, they've gone all out for organic and sustainable fabrics. But they also have a keen eye on modern trends and designs.

I was especially taken with the tops made from Modal–a silky, luxurious fabric that's made from birch. It holds colour for longer than cotton and keeps that colour more intensely.

Ian also pointed out a clever design detail on a lot of clothes designed for the customisation market. Size tabs are offset from the centre of the collar or area designed to rip out, allowing you to put your own branding on the item. Neat thinking.

Another must-stop on the tour was Continental, who while independent are still able to make a big noise against the conglomos at the front of the hall. Their commitment to ethical and sustainable ranges has always made them a favourite here at The Pier. Their Salvage (made from recycled fibre) and Fair Share (paying above market price to the workers that make the clothes) ranges are tremendously popular with our clients. It helps that they've been pals of ours for years, of course!

It's always fun to wander a show and just soak up the weird and wonderful sights. If, like me, this is your first time at a particular show, there can be some real surprises. Take, for example, the guys at Oku, who had an honest-to-Betsy eagle on their stand...

Or the full-on, properly choreographed street-dance fashion shows that featured clothes from brands like Regatta and Trespass - you know, the mid-range brands you'd normally see halfway round the Snake Pass or in a tea shop somewhere in the Dales...

(OK, and AWDI, who do know their street wear).

A real eye-opener for me were the robot embroidery machines. Feed art in one end, and they'll kick into life and stitch that design onto pretty much anything. The end results can be insanely complex.

It was, to be honest, a pretty overwhelming day with lots to see and do. Guru Ian was in his element and walked away carrying his own body weight in brochures and giveaways. New trends for the coming season? Look out for retro styles that harken back to the 80s, with contrast-colours on sleeves and collars.

But the real big thing will be hexoflage–camo styles overlaid with a hexagonal grid in hot colours. Imagine future military livery. Blend in? No chance. This is the sort of colourway you slather over your Titanfall custom loadout before you stomp off to frag alien hordes.

A madcap day, then, but I walked away with a few treats (including a bottle of prosecco in a raffle–thank you, Pencarrie!) and a renewed respect for the complexity of the industry into which I dangle my writerly toes.

There are worse ways to spend a Sunday, that's for sure.

Client Week: SEA SHEPHERD

I'd like to finish our week of client profiles by highlighting a charity that Pier32 has started working with fairly recently: marine conservation group Sea Shepherd.

Their mission: to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife around the UK's coastline and across the world’s oceans. They're a direct action organisation that have been running since the 1970s, with a fleet that includes 4 capital craft, over a hundred active crew members and a support flotilla of RIBS, other fast response-craft and even a unmanned drone squadron! 

Since the days of the first 'Sea Shepherd' (a converted trawler involved in an all or nothing battle with unscrupulous whalers that led to the ship being scuttled in a Portuguese harbour) the organisation has fought with any and all means at its disposal to protect marine wildlife and conserve their habitats. Under the command of founder member Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd continues to make waves with their operations against illegal whaling, seal and sealion hunts, dolphin killing/captures and the killing of over 76 million sharks a year for their fins.

Make no mistake, Sea Shepherd are not desk jockeys. Their actions, with code-names like Operation No Compromise, Operation Zero Tolerance, Operation Relentless (their ongoing campaign to protect whales in the Antarctic) and Operation Grindstop defending dolphins in the Faroe Islands show how the Sea Shepherds take the fight to the poachers and illegal fishing or whaling boats worldwide. Their actions has led some to describe them as pirates, a label that the Shepherds have gleefully expropriated with their trident-and-hook Jolly Roger insignia, and dazzle camo painted boats. 

They may be considered the renegades of the marine conservation movement, but the fact remains that Sea Shepherd get the job done. Japanese whaling fleets are regularly sent home in disarray, with a fraction of their kill quota. Sea Shepherd are aiming to up their game by refusing the fleets a single whale in their new campaigns. They call themselves the 'Whale's Navy'. Let's hope, as demand for whale meat declines and the Sea Shepherd's actions sink the whaling fleet economically - that one day there will be no further need for direct action anti-whaling campaigns.

Until that day comes, Pier32 are proud to support Sea Shepherd. You can find Sea Shepherd at many events around the UK throughout the year - to find out where they'll be next, check out Sea Shepherd's events on their website at http://www.seashepherd.org.uk and find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SeaShepherdUK

The Sea Shepherd UK Online Store can be found at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Sea-Shepherd-UK-Trading-LTD 

Pier32 supply Sea Shepherd with a wide range of hoodies, zoodies, beanies, t-shirts and caps from Starworld, AWDI and Headwear. Here's a selection:

T Shirt (Adults & Child's) ... http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/sw360-organic-tee/ & http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/sw860-kids-organic-tee/

Polo Shirts ... http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/sw160-organic-polo/

Hoodies ... http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/jh001-college-hoodie/

Zoodies ... http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/jh050-zoodie/

Beanies ... http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/4243-acrylic-beanie/ & http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/4244-acrylic-beanie/

Baseball Caps ... http://www.pier32.co.uk/product/4051-eco-cap/

Walking With Pride and NAT

Pier32 are supplying t-shirts for the National AIDS Trust, as they join the throngs of people hitting the city for London Pride. Here's more on what they do, how they're doing it and how you can help!

On 29 June 2013 NAT (National AIDS Trust), the UK’s leading campaigning HIV charity, will be walking at London Pride. We will be promoting our message of getting people passionate about HIV activism.

With a 50-strong crowd we will be marching down Baker Street, through Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square to Whitehall. The route is only two miles but it will take us about three hours.

While we are marching we will be wearing t-shirts, supplied with support from Pier 32, asking people to ‘GET PASSIONATE’ and become a HIV Activist. By wearing our message literally on our chests we will be channelling HIV Activism that was so important in the early days of the HIV epidemic.

We will be giving out stickers, holding up placards, and making our voices heard. By doing this we hope to sign up more people to our HIV Activist Network.

The HIV Activists Network is a virtual group of individuals who are passionate about the rights of people living with HIV - and want to campaign for change.

The group brings people together and provides the tools and information they need to take direct action on issues affecting the lives, rights and well-being of people living with HIV and communities at increased risk of HIV.

Susan Cole, community engagement officer, said:

“The Network combines people’s voices – the more we have the louder they will be.”

NAT will be marching in the front section of the London Pride parade on 29 June 2013.

You can find out about becoming an HIV Activist at www.lifewithhiv.org.uk/hiv-activists-network

+++UPDATE+++

As promised, here's a pic of the NAT guys and gals in their Pier32-supplied T-shirts. Looking good, everyone, and best of luck tomorrow!

Taking Tencel Higher

Here at The Pier, we are great believers in Tencel. Made from eucalyptus and other wood pulp cellulose, it's sustainable credentials are impeccable. It's 100% biodegradable, and significantly friendlier to the environment than fabrics like denim. But it's also waterproof, breathable and endlessly adaptable.

In fact, the denim world is coming around to the attractions of Tencel. At the Paris Denim show, currently running in the French capital, Tencel manufacturer Lenzing are showing how jeans made from a denim/Tencel mix can be much more environmentally friendly. On average, denim with 25% of Tencel in the mix provide huge improvements in the washing process that is such a problem in its manufacture - a 45% improvement in water consumption has been reported. More on that at the link below: it's in German, let Google Translate do the heavy lifting.

The versatility of the fabric has seen Tencel make a show of it on the catwalk, too. Japanese designer Ryota Shiga showed a collection at the Paris Ethical Fashion Show late last year made entirely from Tencel, and won the Ethical Fashion Award for his trouble. He plans to use the fabric in more of his work from now on, and who can blame him? The clothes are sleek, sexy and sharply tailored - a far cry from the mountaineering gear for which Tencel was originally developed.

At Pier32, we're constantly expanding our range of clothing made from innovative fabrics, and Tencel is very much in the mix. Check out our range of Tencel clothing from brands like Continental at the link.

Tencel at Pier32
Tencel At The Paris Denim Show
Ryota Shiga

Pier32 Goes Carbon Neutral

We're starting off 2012 the right way. Pier32 is now officially certified as carbon neutral. All of our operational emissions for 2010 and 2011 have now been mitigated and offset. We've achieved this major milestone with the help of worldwide charity Childreach International. Working with a charity to get this done is important. There are plenty of scam merchants out there making a profit from our concerns about climate change. Through Childreach International, our contribution goes to directly help the people that need it most. Add that to the benefits in emissions reductions, and you can see why Childreach International was a good fit for us. Talking about fit, can we make a suggestion that could help slim down your promotional clothing budget? Buying in bulk might seem like an extravagance, but if you think about it in the same way that you'd look at your weekly shop then it makes more sense. A little planning ahead to make sure you have everything you need for the year, and getting it in one hit can save you quite a bit of cash. And it's cheaper and much more carbon-efficient to deliver one run of 2000 shirts than ten runs of 200. See, everybody wins! Of course, if you subscribed to the Pier32 newsletter, you'd know all this already. Have a look at what you're missing out on. And while you're at it, read more about our Neutral New Year at the Pier32 Carbon Neutral page.

Winter Is Icumen In

No matter how much I dig my heels in and howl, winter and the "festive" season approaches at speed. The evening and in some cases the morning commute are done in darkness now. It's not surprising that this is the season of parties - you need something to keep your mind off the cold bleak weather outside.

Pier32, as ever, have your best interests at heart. We've got a wide range of winter jackets that will help to keep you as snug as an insect in a carpet (or something like that). From foldaway showerproof tops to full-on skiwear, we can do the lot. And as we offer clothing from award-winning ethical manufacturers like Continental and Starworld, you can be sure that you're buying and wearing cold-weather wear that's certified to be good for everyone.

While you're at it, why not take a look at our range of high-visibility wear, which includes a jacket made from 25% recycled materials. A neat way to stand out from the crowd in all kinds of ways.

Of course, if you subscribed to our newsletter, you'd know all this already, although Guru Ian's hard work does help me to lash together a blog post when I'm feeling a bit lazy. You can subscribe at the Pier32 Website.

Pier32 Jackets
Pier32 Recycled Hi-Vis

Hitting The Bottle (no, not like that!)

I mentioned our range of hoodies, zoodies and mid-weight jackets last week while grumbling about the weather - which doesn't really seem to have improved much. But it's still desperately changeable out there. I struggle at this time of year to find the right weight of outerwear, especially as I cycle partway to and from work. It can be freezing in the morning, and warm with hazy sunshine on the trip home. What's a boy to do?

I like this Okarma fleece, part of a range that has been made entirely out of recycled plastic bottles. It takes 44 bottles to make one jacket. That's a lot of pop. The end result is warm without being overpowering, light without letting the early morning breeze scour through it like water through a colander. I don't do cycling wear, and this seems like the perfect compromise. Plus it's ideal for puttering around the garden doing those jobs that seem to pile up at this time of year.

Presenting autumnwear with an ethical twist - although I can't quite believe I'm talking about autumn in the middle of September. I'm holding out for an Indian Summer...

The Okarma OK040 Recycled Fleece at Pier 32

Warm Up With The Pier

Yesterday, I pulled a warm coat out of storage. The sky was the colour of iron, and just as cold. To call this summer a damp squib would be an insult to moistened fireworks. It looks like autumn has come early, people.

At Pier 32, we care about your well-being. We want you to be warm and snug when you poke your noses outside your front door. At the same time, it's not cold enough to warrant full-on winter wear. Never fear. We have your backs covered.

Our range of hoodies, zoodies (hoodies with a zip, yeah, I know, it took me a minute as well) and soft-shell jackets are just the thing as the temperature drops. Warm yet light, packed with features like MP3 pockets and cable loops to keep your tunes close but out of sight, and available in great new contrasty colourways. You'll look the business and have no worries about staying cosy as the cold closes in.

If you've subscribed to our newsletter, you know this already. Why not beat the blogger to all the latest from The Pier?

You can subscribe to the Pier 32 newsletter at the foot of the home page: Pier 32 Home

News You Can Use

It's been a busy week here at the Pier, with the launch of a new range and our first foray into the world of Kart racing.

We're happy to announce the arrival of Boxercraft spiritwear to our catalogue. Also known as loungewear or leisurewear, if you think in terms of Glee-style American preppyness you're heading in the right direction. Available as pants or boxers, these garms are just the thing for goofing around the dorm after football practice. Comfortable and relaxed, these are perfect to give a little teen spirit to a sports group or university. A bit of US flair, from a company with righteous fair-trade and labour credentials.

Read more about Boxercraft, or buy the clothes from the Pier 32 store:

Boxercraft Profile

Boxercraft Spiritwear at Pier 32.

 

Meanwhile, Pier 32 Racing began the season with a storming display from our driver, James Emmerson, at the Kimbolton International Arena last weekend. The Pier 32 support team, including Gerry, the Voice of Pier 32, and Alistair, Mascot and Future Head Of The Company, were there to cheer James on, and enjoy a great day of racing action.

Check out the pics at the Pier 32 Racing site.

 

Of course, if you were signed up to the Pier 32 newsletter, you'd know all this already! You can subscribe in a flash on the homepage:

Subscribe to the Pier 32 Newsletter.

 

Looks like we have a sunny weekend ahead, thank goodness. If you're a twitcher heading off to the Birdfair on Rutland Water today, keep an eye open for the Wildlife Trust T-shirts - from Pier 32, of course! But whatever you're up to, have a great time. See you on Monday!

A prosperous AND ethical New Year to you all!

We firmly believe that in the long run adherence to sound ethics will enhance prosperity - so let's take the sentiments of the headline forward into the new year with the wish that we can make it a great year for all.

We're back in full action on 4th January. In the meantime we seem to have forgot to post our Christmas card to the blog! If you didn't receive it and would like to keep in touch with communications from us then just let us know. And rememember that you can also follow us on Twitter.

Win an Ethical Organic T-Shirt - first numbers now drawn!

You may have noticed the new banner on our home page - from this week, on selected orders of WRAP ethically produced t-shirts, we have been attaching Pier 32 tags that carry a unique number. Starting this week too, and every week for the next 52 weeks, three numbers will be published on this site each week and if one of those numbers matches the tag in your WRAP clothing then you win a ethically produced, WRAP certified, organic cotton t-shirt.

More details: Win an ethically produced organic t-shirt

Without further ado, here are the first three numbers..... 8530, 2229, 1171

Remember to keep these Pier 32 tags and check back in the weeks ahead - if not a winner yet, you could be soon.