Fairway Threads Review Night




There are probably only a handful of people that really understand what it is I do for a career.  I actually have a full time “career” in marketing.  I am also the director of Support the Kid for Cancer- Texas Branch, in my “personal life.”  So where does golf come in, and what exactly is my role in the golf apparel industry?  I can’t answer that, and I probably never will, because it changes constantly.  I have a blog but I am not a blogger.  I love helping people in this industry, and I jump in on a variety of golf apparel projects.  I have started calling it “golf apparel consulting.”  To apparel companies, to tour pros and most importantly to you.  Thankful for all of you that trust my opinion and follow my “work.”  



One of the most exciting aspects of covering golf apparel is seeing new brands, or new technology, develop and launch.  It is so fun to see how collections come about, and if they will be well received or not.  Another one of the most fulfilling things about my work in this industry is that I have the opportunity to experience it with my dear friends.  I am blessed to have the most supportive friends.  Fairway Threads recently held a review night event to merge together these two important worlds.  I wanted to let a few of my supporters and friends model and try several brands so that they could add to my feedback.  I have to say…they nailed it!  It was a great night and I have collected honest and “real-life” thoughts on the brands they reviewed.  I will be rolling these reviews out over the upcoming weeks and have begun sharing images of the photo shoot on Twitter (@KaraKoo) and Instagram (@Fairwaythreads.) 


 
Last, if you are not familiar with Top Golf, I will be giving you something to re-locate for.  If you haven’t been to Top Golf, I assume there is not one located in your area yet, and you may want to move.  Top Golf, is what I consider, one of the biggest "shots in the arm" golf has had since (well…I better not go down that path.) I will give you my thoughts on this golf entertainment craze, and those of my buddies, as Top Golf Dallas was kind enough to host the Fairway Threads Review Night.  Stay thirsty my friends...more to come. 

Thanks to those that made Fairway Threads Review Night possible: Top Golf Dallas, adidas, Antigua, Devereux, Nexbelt, Oxford Golf, QED Style, Queen of the Green, 18th & Main, Amanda Batson, Amanda Oyler, Ashton Hayse, Brad Powers, Corey Mahan, Danielle Latta, Derek Lilleskov, Marisha Gomez, Matt Russell and Meera Snyder. 

  

Oh Say! Have You Seen... Alial Fital?


So much to say about "Made in the USA" apparel label Alial Fital, so little audience attention span.  With this the opening day of not only the US Open at Pinehurst #2, but also the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, I thought we should celebrate America today.  Here is a bit about a fine American apparel company whose design displays a flare of patriotism, and an interview with a CEO that played in the NFL, because it doesn't get more American that that! 

If you follow me at all you know I have always been a big fan of Alial Fital's unique style and high quality.  AF womens dress polos fill my own closet.  They are the best fitting and best looking polo on the market for business casual dress. I must admit, I do not golf in Alial Fital, but you know who does?  A couple guys named Bo VanPelt and Jim Renner, who just so happen to be in the field at the US Open this week.  When VanPelt and Renner qualified for the US Open, Alial Fital decided to use loyal customers from across the country to model each of the pro's individual apparel scripts for the major week.

Read the full story on the Alial Fital 2014 US Open Scripts here.



What is better than American golf?  A collision American golf AND American soccer!  As mentioned, World Cup 2014 opened today in Brazil, and our very own USMNT (US Men's National Team) qualified to take part. What does that have to do with golf apparel?  Alial Fital has a new collection inspired by the USMNT's journey to the World Cup, titled "Road to Rio."  Check it out! Each patriotic design proudly displays the American heritage of red, white and blue, and of course, stars and stripes.  



Alial Fital also just recently launched a pant line to accompany their fabulous polo collection.  Worth checking out the short introduction video by Hamdan shown here.   

So, who is the man behind all the action at Alial Fital?  Meet Gibran Hamdan.  Not only is he a designer of great looking apparel...he is a brand new Daddy and cool dude.  Happy Father's Day Girbran!  


Name: Gibran Hamdan

Title: CEO/Creative Director

Why do you do what you do?
I love to create, design, and deliver inventive and unique art/fashion into the world.

Tell us something interesting about you we may not know:
I really love landscaping. I lived in Kuwait for 6 years. I was named after Khalil Gibran who wrote “The Prophet.”

What looks good/makes a golfer stand out on the golf course?
Anything that truly represents who they are as an individual. As long as a golfer gets his fit right, I think any outfit that truly conveys how he/she feels that day, allows him/her to make their best impression.

What should not be worn on the golf course?
Anything that does not fit properly does not belong on the course. Also I think it’s important that someone takes the time and effort to think about the canvas of their outfit. I’m all good if you like an understated look or prefer to push the envelope, but I prefer someone who considers how each piece works with the rest.

Describe your personal golf apparel style:
For me, there is no separation between my golf apparel style and my regular attire. If I am being forthright, I am not much of a golfer, but for the times have played or when I get out there and whack it around – my philosophy is to simply take my blazer off and be ready to go.


 Describe your brand’s style:
Fashion Forward, Innovative, and Unique American Made Apparel.

Why is attention to golf fashion important?
I think attention to fashion speaks volumes about what kind of person you are and what I can expect in dealing with you. I also believe achieving a baseline of looking presentable, appropriate, and your best, in all situations, will lead to increased success and opportunities in your life. As it pertains to Golf, the same principles apply – like Deion said “Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good.”

What inspired the creation of your brand?
My wife’s sewing machine, a desire to have a dress shirt collar combined with the comfort of a polo, & not being interested in being another former NFL “talking head” on television.

 
Why should golfers buy your brand?
Alial Fital is for unique men who appreciate the idea of thinking differently, and for those that care about personalized and attentive service.

What are the characteristics of a good apparel sponsor partnership with tour pros?
Trust, mutual interest in each other, and friendship. I’m sure bigger brands feel much differently about this question, but for me the #1 thing is that I enjoy, appreciate, and trust any Ambassador we sign. Life’s too short to look at people simply within the scope of how “financially beneficial” they can be for us. Of course, each professional golfer provides varying value depending on their popularity and exposure. When I was in the NFL, my Reebok deal was significantly lower than more notable players and for them that made sense. For Alial Fital, we focus on securing relationships where fairness and trust take precedence over cash. 

What does the future hold for your brand?
Steady growth, led by Ambassadors and customers that care about our success and intrinsically know that where we are today is symbolic of their dedication in helping us achieve it.


 





Smooth Entrance- Interview with Devereux Golf



 One of my favorite things about the first of the year in the golf apparel industry is there is usually a fresh new company that comes onto the scene and captures the attention of us golf fashion gurus.  I like seeing a new collection and get excited to see how its launch plays out.  It doesn't always fair well though.  A couple of years ago a company called Evan Golf previewed at the PGA Merchandise Show and I was instantly obsessed.  Too bad I never had the opportunity to own a single piece from their collection as Evan Golf is still "in the process of establishing a selective channel of retailers." Sigh.  On the other end hand, sometimes a new face hits the golf apparel world and makes an immediate impact.  Such is the case with Devereux - Proper Threads. 

Devereux is the name of creator Robert Brunner's grandmother and the namesake of this fine label.  The family ties continue as the company is also ran by older brother, and director of operations, Will Brunner.  Robert's sister Claire also aides in the operational efforts.  What makes this label, ran by a family from Fort Worth, Texas, so different?  Robert and Will share their thoughts below, and you will see how their influence would easily make for a successful venture.  I'll tell you one thing, Devereux has made a smooth entrance into the industry by instantly capturing the attention of connoisseurs of stylish and quality golf apparel.  I absolutely love the Devereux look and was immediately intrigued. It is clean and attractive but also current.  Check out what the guys have to say and take a look at the Devereux collection here.    






Name: Robert Brunner 
Title: Creative Director/Designer - Devereux

Why do you do what you do?  
Have you ever felt so strongly about one thing?  Have you felt that you can make a difference about that one thing?  I can answer YES to these two questions and that is why I do what I do.  I have passion for fashion design and golf.  I believe my vision and design can make a difference in this market.

What looks good/makes a golfer stand out on the golf course?
Proper fit of his/her clothing and the dapperness of the outfit.  Everyone has their own sense of style, it is part of their personality, but the way to draw positive attention is if your clothes fit and you look well put together.

What should not be worn on the golf course?
Besides anything that is not deemed appropriate for the course, I would say two or more loud pieces.  By this I mean you can wear one loud shirt with a mellow bottom or vice versa.  If you are wearing two loud items then you are trying to hard.  Try leaving the plaid at home - the 90s and early 2000s are exhausted.

Describe your personal golf apparel style:
I like for my clothes to fit properly.  I have a very refined and tailored look.  Slim fit pants, proper fitting Devereux shirt and of course, I have to include the flat bill hat.  The flat bill hat plays into my youthfulness and carefree attitude.

Why is attention to golf fashion important?
I think in anything you do in life you should look good.
To Quote Deion Sanders  “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good.”
I feel like attention to your on-course fashion will give you confidence to play better.

Tell us something interesting about you we may not know: 
This was a question I answered every time for the first day of all my fashion classes.  I have a Bachelor of Science in Geology.





Name: Will Brunner
Title: Older Brother and Director of Operations - Devereux

What inspired the creation of your brand? 
Mens fashion has evolved significantly over the last few years, and there was a noticeable void in the evolution of golf apparel.  Though the game itself has grown immensely over the past decade, the apparel sector has stayed fairly stagnant, especially with the recent rise in men's fashion.  This void, coupled with our love of the game, brought us to where we are today.


What looks good/makes a golfer stand out on the golf course?
Two-under always looks good and will make a golfer stand out especially if they are consistent.  But for apparel, it is the creative elegance a golfer is able to put together.  If a golfer is well put together, then there is an aurora, an automatic quiet confidence, that he exudes on the course.  


What should not be worn on the golf course?
Everyone has their own style.  If you feel comfortable in what you are wearing, then go ahead and wear it.  My brother always says that if you are comfortable, then you are not killing it (style).  It's fun to push the envelope with fashion, just don't get too crazy and take it too far.  If people are constantly looking at you, then you have done something wrong.


Why is attention to golf fashion important?
Attention to golf fashion is important because men's fashion has changed significantly. We have created a brand that is fresh and is able to set itself apart without being to loud and over the top.  You can easily spot a player that knows how to dress because he is well tailored with a sophisticated style.  Those two characters will transcend into the way he carries himself.

Describe your brand’s style:
The Devereux style is a fresh, modern, fashion-forward take on golf apparel.  It's for the golfer that appreciates the finer things in life, but never takes himself to seriously.  For the socialite, but the one with a quiet confidence.

Why should golfers buy your brand?
Devereux offers a modern fit, which is not considered a slim fit or a regular fit.  We ride right in between the two.  Our fit is something that we pride ourselves on. A lot of time and effort was spent nailing down the perfect Devereux fit.  
We also do not skimp on quality or attention to detail.  We use Pima Cotton in both our Jersey and our Pique polo shirts.  Pima Cotton is a high end natural fiber that has longer staple and softer hand than other cottons on the market.  
We also use a Baby Alpaca / Pima Cotton blend in our sweaters.  Baby Alpaca comes from soft fine hair from the underbelly of an Alpaca.  We choose to blend Baby Alpaca and Pima Cotton and the result is an extraordinary hand as well as a superb insulate and we are able to do this all while keeping the sweater light weight.

What does the future hold for your brand? 
I have never been good a predicting the future.  We have had a great deal of success in the very short time we have been a brand and are much further than where I thought we would have been six months ago.  It is fun to see how appreciative and accepting all the clubs and resorts have been towards our brand and, to watch the success they are having amongst their patrons.  There are a lot of exciting things happening at Devereux right now, and some pretty cool stuff coming out in the near future, especially in our Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 collections.






Poppin' Pincords

It is officially Spring.  Easter has just past.  It is time to liven up your golf wardrobe with a few items that resemble an enticing flower garden in full bloom.  Because it's Spring!  Pastel can be scary for some men, but turn up the color palette just a notch between blah and Blixt (bold Puma Golf) and you have the Spring '14 collection from Oxford Golf.  Oxford's new line infuses appropriately bright colors and new styles to bring golfers out of their winter hibernation. Included are new Pima Cotton polos made with a bio polish finish to reduce fading and thread pulling, as well as, great spring layering pieces and sweaters.  My favorite picks from this collection are the Ross Pincord Shorts in eight colors and the matching stretch braided Cavan Belt that comes in 18 festive colors.  These two items allow you to pull off the preppy seersucker look, while meeting your performance needs.      




The Stirling polo with the flat front, microfiber shorts is shown below. Have I mentioned I am obsessed with PURPLE for Spring/Summer 2014?!  The Stirling polo has four thin stripes that look solid from far away. Oxford says this is David Tom’s favorite polo from the Spring ’14 pieces and had Oxford send him all of the available colors.

 
PGA Tour Player Nick Thompson is wearing the Louth Argyle vest below in Pacific Surf. It’s a really cool argyle with a tonal heathered/solid pattern. The vest is 100% Combed Cotton and also comes in Island Green. The shirt underneath is the Wellington Polo. 


Here Thompson is wearing the Navan golf sweater. It has a quarter zip and is made of 100% combed cotton with a diamond raker pattern. This sweater also comes in Atlantic Blue and Purple Coast. 

  

Check out the entire Oxford Golf collection here.



In Your Face Augusta!

Despite what you have heard, not everything the eye can see at the Masters is pristine. There are a few patrons donning "in your face" golf apparel that will immediately affirm that you are not actually IN Heaven.  I was able to capture shots of several said patrons (Please see below) so that everyone would have the chance to "appreciate" the display.  However, this got me thinking.  What is the appeal of wearing such crazy/wacky/loud, golf apparel anyway?!  I  have never been attracted to the Loudmouth Golf style, made famous by John Daly. (I cannot verify that all pants/shorts seen below are Loudmouth Golf brand)  So, since I am biased against the look, I decided to reach out to my Twitter followers (@KaraKoo) and find out why golf fans like or dislike the familiar audacious apparel line.

"Love all my Loudmouth pants, hats & shirts. Never play without them, I get compliments on every course!" - @greggv728

"They (Loudmouth) fit me better than any other golf clothes I have tried!" - @jfarhood

"Loudmouth rocks.  Go loud or go home!" - @Michael_King09

"They (Loudmouth) aren't for me. Don't want the 'I just escaped from a circus' look when I play golf." - @wesleywhamond

"Over priced and too crazy. Reminds me of Scott Hochs Tabasco Sauce clothing line." - @mrieger72

"High quality and very comfortable pants, on top of a unique look. I like to at least look good when I don't play well." - @westcoastwilleh

Great feedback! My personal take is that Loudmouth faithful seem to portray that it is permissible for older guys, or those who should avoid drawing any more attention to their "problem areas" as we females like to call them, to wear this overstated look.  It comes across very obnoxious and attention-seeking, rather than adding true style and uniqueness.  BUT, who am I to squash a guy's opportunity to have fun and get noticed for a day? 

Check out Loudmouth Golf and decide for yourself if you will be their next LOUDEST fan! 















   

Why Wear Ordinary Polos?!

There is a fine line between fun and unique, and tacky.  British golf apparel company, Bunker Mentality, is typically on-point with their funky, yet attractive, designs.  Bunker Mentality's goal is to "create new traditions and future classics in golf apparel." Their polos have a modern and fashion forward spirit for people who love golf and have a different mentality. This label takes inspiration from popular culture and trends and 'golfizes' the look.  As a matter of fact, I told Bunker Mentality just the other day that if anyone could create a great looking Hawaiian print golf polo it was them.  They were quick to let me know that the design was already in process, of course.  In case you don't follow fashion, Hawaiian print is currently hot on the scene.  So it came as no surprise that this hip golf apparel provider is keeping up.   

Check out some of Bunker Mentality's stylish polos below and click here to shop.  Shipping on US orders over $100 are free and only $15 otherwise.  Get in the right frame of mind and wear something fun for a change! 

Racing Stripe Playa Polo - White


Tour Stripes Playa Polo - Hot Pink/Black


Front 9 Polo Black / Red


CMax Golfadelic Black Polo


CMax Golf Star Polo - Yellow


CMax Golf Star Polo - Blue



Visit Bunker Mentality