Sports Lifestyle Apparel Leader Focuses on Fits, Femininity, Superior Quality
(Vancouver, BC, Canada) – Leading sports lifestyle apparel designer Linda Hipp and her company, LIJA, announce the launch of three entirely new, style-conscious collections in the Active, Leisure and Tennis categories for Spring 2009.
Focusing on innovative style, femininity and superior quality, the new collections showcase a variety of luxurious, lightweight performance fabrics designed to enhance functionality, comfort and movement. Key technical properties of the tank tops, t-shirts, vests, dresses, jackets, capris, shorts, skorts, pants and skirts include moisture wicking, quick drying, breathability and UV protection.
“Over the past decade, we’ve built LIJA into a leading golf and sportswear brand by breaking down the barriers between on- and off-course fashions,” says Hipp, principal designer and founder. “Our core philosophy is to offer women comfortable, attractive clothing for all their pursuits, which is embodied by our stylish silhouettes for the Active, Leisure and Tennis markets.”
Highlight items like Tennis’ sleek Vapor Form Jumper and Active’s Willow Endeavor Dress underscore the vital role performance fabrics play in the new categories. The ultra-lightweight materials include superior stretch, water- and wind-resistant characteristics ideal for many pastimes. Additionally, the modal cotton used in the Luxe Knit Superfemme Jacket – and throughout the rest of the Leisure collection – features extreme softness.
LIJA’s complete offerings for Spring 2009 – including the brand’s four other golf and sportswear collections – will be sold in department stores and the finer country clubs, resorts and off-course retailers throughout North America, such as Pebble Beach, Kiawah Island, Whistling Straits, Congressional and others.
Retailing from $65 to $130, the Active, Leisure and Tennis collections are highlighted in a 40-page catalog currently available for retailers and media members. Shipping begins February 15.
A pioneer in the golf apparel industry, LIJA’s growing presence in top clubs is supported by a variety of initiatives, including its Tour Style Leaders program. The unique new approach to sponsorship provides eight elite players from the LPGA, Futures and Ladies European Tour with an expansive selection of LIJA products to wear on- and off-course. The golfers are also entered into a season-long competition for a Grand Prize valued at $25,000 consisting of a cash bonus and apparel sponsorship for the 2009 playing season, among other components.
The company’s clothing is worn by scores of women golf professionals worldwide, including Marisa Baena, Courtney Erdman, Jennifer Greggain, Leta Lindley, Brenda McLarnon, Jane Park and Georgina Simpson and others.
For more information, call 888.263.1191 or visit www.lijastyle.com.
About the Active, Leisure and Tennis Fabrics
Compression, a dense Meryl® Nylon/Lycra that is stretchy and soft to the touch, is LIJA’s core fabric for the active and tennis collections. This fabrication has body hugging support, moisture wicking and UV protection of 40+, providing perfect conditions for excellent performance.
Available in Active and Tennis
Fluid, LIJA’s most luxurious fabric, is extremely lightweight and has a beautiful, buttery-soft feel. Once you’re in it, you won’t want to get out! Designed for comfort and mobility, this fabric also provides important technical features such as moisture wicking and UV protection of 20+, and is quick drying.
Available in Active and Tennis
Hybrid, a textured technical knit, is an open weave knit fabric with superior stretch and comfort. This lightweight moisture wicking fabric is ideal for high performance activities as the open mesh weave provides breathability and pulls moisture away from your skin. The easy care of this fabric makes it a “must” for an active wardrobe.
Available in Active and Tennis
Vapor is sleek, luxurious and ultra lightweight. Its key features, including enhanced stretch for mobility, quick drying capabilities and UV protection of 50+, will provide you with a competitive edge in all your active pursuits.
Available in Active and Tennis
Willow is a beautiful, translucent, wind-resistant fabric that is so lightweight, you forget you have it on. This easy-care fabrication is also compact and water-repellant.
Available in Active
Verve, LIJA’s mid-weight fabric, is perfect for layering during warm up or cool down. It not only provides a buttery soft feel next to the skin, but is quick drying and has all the necessary technical properties, including moisture wicking and UV protection of 40+.
Available in Active and Tennis
Silk Knit is a beautiful, lightweight knit with a feminine drop needle pattern.
Available in Leisure
Bello Knit is a luxurious, ultra lightweight fabric providing a more ‘drapey’ look to the garments. Available in Leisure
French Terry is an incredibly soft modal that feels beautiful on while the spandex provides enhanced stretch for movement.
Available in Leisure
The Lux Knit fleece fabric has a classic look and feel to it with a more unique “slubby” modified French Terry back.
Available in Leisure
About LIJA
LIJA is a market leader in fashion-forward styles featuring feminine and comfortable silhouettes inspired by the fusion of sport, leisure and fashion. The brand’s distinctive excellence is driven by LIJA’s passion, commitment and dedication to creating innovative designs.
Having received significant recognition within and outside the golf industry, LIJA has achieved significant organic annual sales growth. Enjoying a rapidly expanding sales force and account base in North America, LIJA recently began selling into the UK, Ireland, South Africa and United Arab Emirates markets.
Recent recognition for the company includes:
2008 PGA Magazine – Resort Top Seller
2008 PROFIT 100 Rankings of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies
2007 “Business of the Year” – Richmond Chamber of Commerce
2007 PGA Magazine – Resort Top Seller
2007 PGA Magazine – Private Course Top Seller
2007 Best of Show Honors at PGA Show – Golfing Magazine
2007 PROFIT 100 Rankings of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies
2006 PROFIT W100 Ranking of Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs
2006 Business in Vancouver “BC’s 50 Fastest-Growing Companies”
2005 Canadian Golf Company of the Year – Score Golf magazine
Individually, Linda Hipp has been honored as a grant recipient of the Matinee Fashion Foundation Award, which annually recognizes and funds select Canadian designers, and voted a “40 Under 40” winner by Business in Vancouver.
An avid and highly-skilled golfer, Hipp struggled to find on-course apparel that meshed with her off-course fashion sensibility. Recognizing a market opportunity – and the chance to combine her passions for fashion, golf and business – Hyp Golf was launched in July 1997. The company re-branded as LIJA in late 2004. Chiefly influenced by both European trends and West Coast style, Hipp has garnered a widespread reputation as one of North America’s hottest sportswear designers.
Contact:
Andrea Latta
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3383
alatta@billycaspergolf.com
