Images_Digital_Edition_November_2019

KB INDUSTRY EVENT www.images-magazine.com 22 images N0VEMBER 2019 From 2020, Winterbottom’s is to switch its Kempsey and Knightsbridge blazers to 100% recycled polyester, both the outer shell and the lining, at no additional charge. Presenting them at the show, commercial director Chris Smith said: “Once we have exhausted our current stock of 100% polyester blazers, all new orders will be made with recycled polyester for delivery from May/June 2020. It’s part of a general move that we are working towards being as sustainable as we can manage. This is the first step. There’s definitely a groundswell of opinion in schools that recycled polyester is the preferred product.” The company is also looking at ‘closing the loop’ by finding ways for garments to be recycled after use. New designs Winterbottom’s is also looking to the future with new designs and Schoolwear Association Awards The winners of the Schoolwear Association Awards, now in their third year, were announced during The Schoolwear Show. At a ceremony at the Village Hotel in Solihull, the title of Best Schoolwear Supplier went to Rowlinson while the award for Sustainability in Schoolwear went to David Luke . The trophy for Outstanding Service to Schoolwear went to Swarn Dulkoan for building up manufacturer Diamond Textiles. Grays Schoolwear , with two stores in Lancashire, won Best Digital Schoolwear for its fully mobile phone-compatible, user-friendly website. The award for Best Community Partner went to Lancashire-based Whittakers , which also won the title of Best Schoolwear Specialist (with more than 10 full-time staff). Best Schoolwear Specialist (with fewer than 10 full-time staff) was awarded to Cheshire-based retailer Petites Modes . Runners-up were: Total Clothing, Uniform4kids, Smarty, Fosters Schoolwear, Falcon, Trutex and Joanne Grayer from Uniformwise. The show’s sponsors included: Stevensons, Cardinal Maritime Group, Trutex, Rowlinson, William Turner and Banner. Akoa’s old and new styles of sportswear Rowlinson promoted its sustainability message specifications. From 2020, all its stock- supported shirts and blouses will be made of non-iron fabric, complemented by twin-needle lap seams for extra durability, but without a like-for-like price increase. “It’s a higher-specification garment so it is effectively better value for money,” Chris added. The company also showcased additions to its slim-fit blouses, including revere collars, and the latest developments for its range of tartan skirts. Launched in 2019, the tartans now come in 11 patterns, of which six are exclusive, designed by brand manager Suzanne Knowles. At this year’s show, she unveiled her new red, grey and black tartan design, which has been introduced for 2020. “I designed these to fit with one or more of our existing blazers so that the whole colour palette comes together seamlessly,” Suzanne explained. Banner introduced a new tartan pleated skirt, made from 65% recycled polyester/35% natural viscose. “They come in tonal colours so they mix and match with the blazers and jackets in the range,” said Sarah Robins, Banner’s sustainability manager. Banner has also added three new colours for its boys’ and girls’ jackets as well as a new junior training tee in emerald green with contrast white as part of its Aptus Essentials sportswear collection. Sportswear New sportswear brand Juco Delivered by David Luke had its own stand at the show – its first outing since David Luke started developing the separate collection last year. Innovations include polo shirts with blade collars and two-in-one shorts for girls featuring a longer base-layer short underneath for modesty. “We look at more aspirational sportswear brands to see what we can bring over to the schoolwear market,” added Bryony from David Luke. “The idea was to create a brand that is about inclusivity. A lot of sportswear brands are about being the next Olympian, but not everyone is like that so we are trying to create a range that engages people to join in and have a go. We also respond to children’s concern about body image through different lengths and fits.” With 50% of the Juco range made with recycled polyester, the plan is to extend this further. Trutex had a separate stand for its sportswear brand Akoa, presenting the latest style developments. Garments have new and improved fit for 2020 such as slightly shorter sleeves, pointed out Rowena from Trutex. “We have fine- tuned some of the products after market feedback. They are sportier with a more contemporary, up-to-date finish.” It also demonstrated Akoa’s relaunched website, which includes a new 3D kit