(Vancouver, BC, Canada) – Popular women’s apparel designer Linda Hipp and her company, LIJA, announce the debut of their active and tennis collection for Spring 2010, featuring an array of tremendously versatile pieces showcasing premium fabrics, dynamic styling and a unique color palette.
Bringing runway elements to a range of sporting and leisure pursuits, the collection incorporates long and lean silhouettes, tiers, ruffles, pleats and gathers in a wide range of garments that can serve as highlight or complementary pieces in the wardrobe of any active fashionista. Crafted to be mixed and matched to create perfect outfits for a variety occasions, the tops and bottoms are available in shades of slate, lace, aqua, optic and onyx.
“After watching our inaugural active and tennis lines sell out so quickly, we knew we were really fulfilling a void in the more sports-inspired woman’s wardrobe,” says Hipp, principal designer and founder. “This season, we’re blending function with style in a manner that’s inspired by living a healthy lifestyle across a wide range of activities, including tennis, running, yoga, going to the gym and more.”
Emphasizing comfort and movement, the line’s tank tops, t-shirts, dresses, jackets, capris, shorts and skorts are made from luxurious, lightweight fabrics. Statement pieces like the Compression Shake Up Tank, Fuse Oxygen Dress and Willow Air Supply Jacket will be must-haves for trend-setters’ closets. Key technical properties throughout the collection include moisture wicking, quick-drying, wind resistance, breathability and UV protection.
Retailing from $65 to $120, the active and tennis collection is highlighted in a new lookbook format that groups pieces by fabrication, making it easy to find the best designs for your activity. Currently available for retailers and media members, the catalog also features “Style Insights” from Hipp, including tips and trends that inspired this season’s designs. Shipping begins February 15.
LIJA’s complete offerings for Spring 2010 – including the brand’s four other golf and sportswear collections – are available in finer retailers across North America, including world-renowned resorts and clubs like the Seattle Tennis Club, Princess Anne Country Club and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
The company’s clothing is worn by scores of professional athletes worldwide, including rising tennis star Rebecca Marino and LPGA Tour player Leta Lindley, among others.
For more information, call 888.263.1191 or visit www.lijastyle.com.
About the Active and Tennis Fabrics
Compression, a dense Meryl® Nylon/Lycra blend that offers superior stretch and is cool to the touch, making it ideal for all of your active pursuits. This fabrication has body hugging support, moisture wicking and UV protection of 40+, providing perfect conditions for excellent performance.
Compression 2 a dense Meryl® Nylon/Lycra blend that offers superior stretch and is slightly heavier than our standard Compression. It offers added stability and coverage in shorts and capris, and provides body hugging support, moisture wicking and UV protection of 40+ to create perfect conditions for excellent performance..
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.
French Terry is an incredibly soft modal that feels beautiful on while the spandex provides enhanced stretch for movement.
Fuse, a textured technical knit, it possesses the cool, soft touch of Meryl®Nylon with the added interest of a textured surface. This lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric is ideal for high performance activities as it provides breathability while pulling moisture away from your skin. The easy care of this fabric make it a “must” for an active wardrobe.
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+.
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.
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 entered the tennis and active categories in Spring 2009 with collections that were embraced by both consumers and retailers for their distinct silhouettes, materials and styling. Enjoying a rapidly expanding sales force and account base in North America, as well as considerable organic growth, LIJA began selling into the UK, Ireland, South Africa and United Arab Emirates markets.
Recent recognition for the company includes:
2009 PROFIT 100 Rankings of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies
2009 Progressive Employer of Canada
2009 The Hackers Paradise Golfer’s Choice Award – Best Ladies Apparel
2008 Executive of the Year – Score Golf Magazine
2008 PROFIT W100 Rankings of Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs
2008 PGA Magazine — Resort Top Seller and Private Course Top Seller
2008 PROFIT 100 Rankings of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies
2007 “Business of the Year” — Richmond Chamber of Commerce
2006 Business in Vancouver “BC’s 50 Fastest-Growing Companies”
Individually, Hipp has been named 2008 “Canadian Executive of the Year” by Score Golf, honored as a grant recipient of the Matinee Fashion Foundation Award, which 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, and continues to expand to offer women apparel for all their active pursuits. 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
