Icing on the Cake- Graham DeLaet for Sligo Wear

I am not running a golf apparel company.  If I was, I would imagine I would hope to eventually grow to a place where I could afford to invest in a solid partnership with a professional golfer on the PGA tour.  Initially, I might settle for just about anyone with a tour card.  Someone that would not only increase exposure for my label, but who also appeared to be a good fit for the look I offered.  If the guy ended up doing well and earning some TV coverage/media attention, well that would just be icing on the cake.

If you take a look at Canadian based golf apparel company Sligo Wear’s partnership with tour pro Graham DeLaet, it is as if they are yelling out “pick a frosting baby!”  Sligo developed their fresh, bold brand in 2004.  In 2012, the Saskatchewan born DeLaet came on board.  Sligo gained a bright-eyed, young PGA tour pro from Canada (multiple wins on the Canadian Tour) whose personality instantly fit the collection.  DeLaet and Sligo seem to fit like strawberry and banana.  (Too much? Are you craving dessert yet?)  If there was any doubt then of the value DeLaet would bring to Sligo Wear, there is certainly none now.  DeLeat is currently ranked 24^th in FedEx Cup season points and is first on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation.  With five top 10 finishes in 20 events this season, DeLaet has certainly seen enough TV coverage to make an impact on Sligo’s brand exposure.

While chatting with DeLaet’s precious wife Ruby at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in May of this year, she mentioned that she had heard one of the TV broadcasters say that Graham “looked like a cupcake” because of the “electric coral” Gerrard polo and “hyper teal” pants he was wearing that round.  Her thoughts on his look that day? She loved it, in fact, she loves the fun, bold style of Sligo.   

Let’s indulge in more of Ruby DeLaet’s thoughts on the partnership between Graham and Sligo Wear shall we?  She has savvy insights, and you will see that the DeLaets are right on-point with their objectives in finding the right apparel sponsor for Graham’s career on the PGA Tour. 

FT: Sligo has a huge personality.  Do you feel Sligo's personality matched well with Graham's when this partnership formed or do you feel Graham has adapted to fit Sligo's personality?

RD: I truly feel that it was a “match made in heaven” when Graham and Sligo came together.  I believe that Sligo, being a Canadian company, made for an automatic sponsorship bond.  The personality of Sligo and Graham matched from the beginning.  I may be biased, well obviously I am, but I look at Graham, who takes risks on the course with his golf game, and see that he also takes risks with his apparel choices in wearing Sligo.  He takes risks with some crazy plaid pants and thankfully it all pays off!  Plus, Sligo’s style is so vibrant and bright, without being gaudy.  Graham has a very positive attitude and he’s always trying to have fun out on the course.  Sligo is a perfect compliment to that.  I mean, who doesn’t like cupcakes?!

FT: Has Graham always worn bold colors and patterns?

RD: Not really.  He’s your typical t-shirt and jeans kind of guy.  Before Sligo, he wore J.Lindeberg.  They had nice clothing; not boring, but nothing too crazy.  When we got his first Sligo shipment, we were like “holy crap!”  “How do we know what goes with what??!!”  Since then, Graham has learned how to piece items together and he’s really been enjoying dressing “out of the box.”  It’s fun when people know him as “Mr. Fancy Pants”.  Even other tour wives ask me what Graham has on for the day, when I see them in Family Dining each week.   

 

 FT: Any thoughts on how the partnership came about, or why you guys knew it would be a good fit? 

RD: When it came time to pick a new clothing sponsor, we worked with our agent to decide what type of brand would best represent Graham as a player, as well as, set him apart from other golfers on the tour.  At the end of the day, it’s a lot about marketing.  We lucked out that Sligo does an amazing job supporting their tour staff and providing what they need.  As you may already know, Brian Gay was Sligo’s first big name team member.  The Gay’s provided a lot of input when the company was just getting started.  So when Sligo decided that they wanted to sign Graham, they went to Brian and Kimberly Gay first, and discussed it with them.  To me, that shows character and respect toward their golfers.

  

FT: What does Graham like about wearing Sligo?  What do you like about this brand for Graham?

RD: The fit of the clothing and quality are a big part of why Graham enjoys wearing Sligo.  It’s a huge bonus that Graham doesn’t have to alter any of the items.  He can take them right out of the package to wear right away.  He and I both really enjoy all the fun, crazy colors and patterns and pairing them together.  He’s really started to get noticed for what he wears, which helps in his branding.  Thankfully, we have received a lot of positive feedback.  Although, I do hear some funny comments from spectators.  I remember an older gentleman saying “he needs to make this putt so he can afford to buy new pants”.  Regardless, of whether people like the bold style or not, they are talking about it, and that’s all you can ask for.  

  

FT: What is your favorite Sligo 13A combo Graham has worn this season?

RD: I am a huge fan of the Yorkville Brooklyn Blue Shirt paired with white pants.  Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of all the plaid, I just love how the checkered shirt is so different.  It doesn’t even look like a golf shirt.

 

   

FT: Why should the average weekend golfer wear Sligo Wear?

RD: Because above average clothing gives you an above average golf game.  You will look so awesome no one will pay attention to your slice!

Check out Sligo Wear Golf Apparel: http://www.sligowear.com/ 
Find out more about Graham DeLaet: PGATour.com 
Follow @GrahamDeLaet and @The_Rubes on Twitter

Up and Down- Open Championship

Surprisingly enough, we were able to see some actual golf apparel at the 2013 Open Championship, not just round after round of golfers in rain gear.  Seems like every week of the PGA tour, rain delays abound.  The one week we expect daily rain showers, and they are absent.  Excellent.  Good thing no one skipped the whole "what to wear" pre-planning, huh?  Though, as always, a few brands should have spent a little more time at the white board before sending their guys out to Muirfield.  Some absolutely nailed their presentation, and some had to explain their strategy before I decided to buy into their showing.

Lee Westwood- Dunlop

 
Lee Westwood wore one too many neon Dunlop polos this week if you ask me.  Don't get me wrong, I am probably one of the biggest supporters of neon you will find, but it just doesn't suit him on the golf course, in my opinion.  Would also like to see him go easy on the white pants. Once a weekend should do, Lee.  However, you gotta love his winning smile, after a gutting loss on Sunday.

Bubba Watson- Oakley

I am all about gambling when it comes to golf apparel style, but I think Oakley needs to step away from the craps table for a while.  Bubba's Thursday and Friday looks are just fine, but the pattern in Saturday's polo was not flattering.  Sunday's look was simply ridiculous.  The pink pants were much more muted than they appear in the image above, and they were paired with a disturbing polo that had a bright magenta splatter resembling blood across the midsection.  I wanted so badly to like it, because I am a huge advocate of unique design, but something is just not clicking, Oakley.

Graeme McDowell- Kartel 

 I am usually on board with the looks Kartel partners with McDowell to create for his game.  So much so, that I actually went to Kartel with questions in hand, after what initially seemed like a Thursday-round fashion disaster for McDowell.  Normally, I would just call it like I saw it, but I knew there had to be some sort of explanation. G-Mac always looks fabulous on the course.  See the screen shot above of Thursday's TV Coverage.  As I told Kartel, it looked like he is wearing bright royal blue pants with a slate gray polo.  I was getting messages sent my way on how G-Mac looked awful and didn't match.  I agreed.  However, I am glad I reached out for an explanation.  "We matched the blue pants with the McRetro polo because of the subtle blue on the sleeve tipping and back neck collar of the shirt. Unfortunately the TV coverage didn't pick this up very well," said a Kartel representative.  Upon further observation, the look was actually quite stunning.  Nice work as always, Kartel. 

Shingo Katayama- Dance With Dragon
 

If I have told you once, I have told you a hundred times, the best thing an apparel sponsorship can do for a golfer is help him stand out and create a bigger name for himself.  Boom.  I would say the Japanese partnership of Dance With Dragon and Shingo Katayama has done just that.  Love it or hate it, Katayama's dynamic, bold style made a huge statement this week, as it has for years.  Keep dancing, Shingo. 

Billy Horschel- RLX Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren knows what they are doing with Billy Horschel.  He is a clean-cut, good looking, all-American type guy, so he fits the Ralph Lauren brand like a glove.  Good choice, Ralph.  RLX has also planned key, buzz-worthy looks for Horschel's major appearances that have left the world of golf and all it's fans anticipating what is next in the line-up.  Horschel recently wore the famous octopus pants at the US Open.  This week at Muirfield, anyone who had seen the pre-released apparel card for Horschel was rooting for him to make the cut, mostly so they could see his Sunday button-down cardigan and plaid pants.  Has ever apparel that WASN'T worn, gotten more attention than what was worn?!  Though we were all disappointed when Horschel didn't make the cut, he still looked incredible during the first two rounds of the Open Championship. 

Ian Poulter- IJP Design

If I am ever going to be accepting of too much tartan plaid, it is during the Open Championship, especially when it is hosted in Scotland.  So, credit where credit is due for Ian Poulter's IJP Design this week.  First of all, he incorporated electric blue, and anyone who has read an ounce of what I have written this season knows I am a massive advocate of electric blue.  Poulter paired it perfectly with gray and white tartans.  I received several comments on Poulter's hot pink visor and Puma shoes during Sunday's round.  I admit, they did take away from the excellent navy sweater vest and navy tartans with hot pink accents, however, overall I thought IJP Design did a fine job of mixing bold with classic golf style.  Great golf performance too, Ian.

What's Hot this Summer?

Walk into any golf retailer, visit your local club or watch coverage of the PGA Tour.  A few key fashion trends really stand out for the 2013 Spring/Summer golf season.  As seen in the July Issue of Avid Golfer Magazine's cover story The Hot List, below is Fairway Thread's take on what is hot in golf apparel this summer.  

Color: Electric Blue

Puma calls it "Brilliant Blue,"  Sligo Wear calls it "Brooklyn Blue."  Either way, electric/neon blue is the color of the season.  It is bold without being intimidating to wear, it looks great on everyone, it is readily available and it pops on the golf course.  Pair this shade of blue with white, black, or gray.  Remember, you are not Rickie Fowler.  You might get away with one bright accent color, such as yellow or orange, but only if used sparingly.  

Brand: Sligo Wear, Asher Gloves

If you visit a major golf retailer, such as Golf Smith or Golf Galaxy, you will immediately see a good selection of the major brands:  Puma, Nike Golf and adidas.  All three brands have great looks available in their spring/summer collections.  I would have to say the "trendiest" brand, may still be Travis Mathew.  You will see many celebrities/athletes, wearing this label on the golf course, as well as, just about everyone else.  However, if you are looking for a brand with a lot of personality, tremendous style and great design, try Sligo Wear.  Sligo offers a range of offerings from super bold to uniquely colorful.  Worn by PGA Tour standouts Graham DeLaet and Brian Gay, I have seen Sligo start popping up on a number of fans at tour events.  

Also take a look at Asher Gloves for ridiculously affordable, yet ever so hot and stylish gloves.

 

Style: Bold Patterns

In a word: bold.  Bold patterns and designs have taken over golf apparel.  This doesn't have to mean "in your face" obnoxious, like that of Loudmouth Golf's collection, rather, strategic use of unique designs and color combinations to make pieces interesting and stand out.  Some selections are more agreeable than others, as a little flare goes a long way.  However, one thing is certain, bold is in and you shouldn't be afraid to step out of your "plain polo" comfort zone.   

Avid Golfer July Issue- The Hot List- http://www.avidgolferonline.com/issues/2013/1307agdfw/cover-story-the-hot-list.aspx

Wear This Not That

Anyone catch the weather-delayed final round of the Greenbrier Classic Sunday?  Did you happen to notice the popping yellow Puma Golf shirt Jonas Blixt was wearing?  Blixt has often been spotted in taxi cab yellow the past couple of years.  Thus, this week's "Wear This Not That" was inspired by the Greenbrier Classic champion.  Yellow is a fun choice to liven up your stack of golf polos, so let's go for it!  

Nike Golf offers a couple of great options to inject yellow into your weekend wardrobe.  The Nike Men's Golf Plaid Short in Dandelion with gray accents, shown above, is a solid choice and is currently on sale at Golf Galaxy for $54.99.  Wear these shorts with the yellow Nike Fashion Graphic Polo shown to the left ($75), as opposed to the diamond patterned selection on the right.  The detail in the graphic polo add interest without becoming overwhelming, when paired with plaid shorts.  I actually like the polo on the right, and think it would pair fabulously with a pair of solid yellow pants, it is just too bold to match with plaid.

I will take this opportunity to extend a warning to those of you already preparing to jet off to your local golf retailer to hunt down your official yellow purchase.  Remember that yellow stands for caution, when you approach the Oakley Golf offering of the apparel section.  For every ten polo designs in this season's Oakley Golf collection, there are about five that make you say "huh?"  Their attempt at striking and unique design has been somewhat puzzling.  Just trust me, when in doubt, stay with a solid color polo if purchasing Oakley.  See below for two examples.  The yellow accented shirt on the left is ok I suppose, I just feel the logo placement and design is a bit odd.  Plus, I feel there are far better options from other brands.  The Oakley Dusk Polo, on the right, is one of the worst I have seen all season.  

 
Liven up your collection of golf apparel with a fresh slice of yellow this month.  Grab those plaid Nike Golf shorts in dandelion while on sale, or see what else you can hand pick. Just remember to use caution when it comes to crazy patterns.  As a rule, it is best to pair a pattern with a solid, when in doubt. 

Take a look at Golf Galaxy: http://www.golfgalaxy.com/