Ralph Dunning introduces 'Dunning Classic' Premium Sportswear Collection

Leading menswear designer Ralph Dunning announces the launch of Dunning Classic, a country-club driven premium sportswear collection featuring cuts, colors and fabrics fueled by the brand’s authentic golf heritage.

Premiering for Spring 2009 and built on the tradition, etiquette and exceedingly high quality serious players respect both on and off the course. The collection includes a broad range of staples, such as cotton pique polos, performance wovens, extra fine Merino wool sweaters, Pima cotton pullovers, vintage varsity tops and traditional rugby polos, as well as cotton-Coolmax blended pants and shorts.

Showcasing clean silhouettes, the richest fabrics and finest tailoring, the Dunning Classic collection is made almost entirely in Canada to the highest production standards, ensuring complete consistency of quality and fit. The line will be sold via a focused, high-end distribution network, including leading menswear shops, major retailers and the brand’s existing network of country club and resort accounts.

“Members of the world’s finest clubs have come to recognize, appreciate and desire our unrivalled attention to producing superior garments,” says Dunning, the company founder and principal designer.

“With their ‘D’ repp-shield crest, these timeless garments are designed to be the centerpiece of a man’s casual wardrobe for years to come. They speak directly to golf’s heritage while remaining current, and that’s exactly what the market has been asking for.”

A 42-year-old Ontario native and lifelong athlete, Dunning is a former IRONMAN competitor and marathoner who boasts a 17-year heritage on the leading-edge of performance apparel design. His eponymous golf line is sold at marquee clubs and resorts throughout North America and worn in competition by scores of PGA Tour stars, including 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson.

Dunning first garnered widespread acclaim in the 1990s for his Rip n’ Hammer line of premium technical clothing for triathletes and cyclists. He also drew praise for work on behalf of some of the world’s largest and most authentic sports brands, including Saucony, Reebok and Cervelo Cycles.

The Dunning Classic collection will begin shipping in November. Sizes range from XS-2XL in tops and 30”-42” in bottoms.

An authentic golf-lifestyle brand, Dunning apparel is available throughout North America via a focused, high-end distribution network, including marquee country clubs and resorts, premier menswear shops and major retailers.

Dunning Classic Collection Highlights

Saville Stripe Polo ($100)
- Colors: westchester/navy, surf/pink, palmer/white, white/navy, surf/navy
- Fabric content: 100 percent combed cotton pique
- Description: Modern-prep striped short sleeve polo with embroidered repp-shield 'D' crest appliqué, two-button placket, ribbed collar and cuff detail

Tipped Collar Polo ($100)
- Colors: white, palmer, navy, burgundy, prep
- Fabric content: 100 percent combed cotton pique
- Description: Solid tipped collar polo with vintage look, embroidered repp-shield 'D' crest appliqué, two-button placket, ribbed collar and cuff detail

Performance Woven Square Check ($120)
- Colors: sendo, palmer, stable, surf
- Fabric content: 43 percent Coolmax® / 35 percent cotton / 22 percent polyester
- Description: Blended, ultra-lightweight button down combining classic look and feel with technical performance, including permanent moisture management and wrinkle-resistance

Extra Fine Merino Wool V-Neck ($200)
- Colors: canary, palmer, pink, surf, navy, burgundy, charcoal, black
- Fabric content: 100 percent extra fine Italian Merino wool
- Description: Luxuriously soft sweater offering a gentleman's look and rich hand with natural performance

Pima Cotton Zip Neck ($150)
- Colors: burgundy, stable, surf, sendo, burnt orange, navy, prep
- Fabric content: 100 percent Pima cotton (made in Peru)
- Description: Classic sportswear pullover featuring contrasting neck and cuff detailing, a branded zipper and embroidered repp-shield 'D' crest appliqué

Traditional Rugby Polo ($140)
- Colors: navy, burgundy, sendo, prep, varsity, black
- Fabric content: 100 percent cotton (16 oz.)
- Description: Classic rugby with embroidered repp-shield 'D' crest on chest and 'D' icon appliqué on left sleeve, and authentic features such as a canvas collar, interior placket, sidesplit detailing and three-button placket with rubber buttons

Cotton Coolmax® Seersucker Pant ($120)
- Colors: navy, surf
- Fabric content: 62 percent cotton / 38 percent Coolmax®
- Description: Traditional seersucker look with classic feel, lightweight construction and ultra-technical performance, such as permanent moisture management and wrinkle resistance

Cotton Coolmax® Tattersall Short ($95)
- Colors: surf/pink, tocatta/navy
- Fabric content: 65 percent cotton / 35 percent Coolmax®
- Description: Preppy tattersall patterned short with classic fit, ultra-lightweight construction and technical performance, including permanent moisture management and wrinkle resistance

Speedo LZR Racer - a swimwear for beating records

Speedo's new LZR Racer swimsuit has caused a respectable amount of controversy for itself in the run-up to the Olympics. The innovative, NASA-aided design cinches up on a swimmer and promises to have a:

10 % less drag then fastskin fsII
5% less drag than fastskin fs pro
4% faster in starts, springts and turns compared to fastskinR FS-PRO
5% better oxygen efficiency compared to a normal training suit

48 world records were set this year before the olympics, 44 of those wearing the suit. And the technology inside this swimwear has really impressing everybody espescially on this ongoing Beijing Olympics. 8 records have fallen, and that number is certain to grow.

I happened to watch the Olympic games and I was astound by the results. Heat after heat, new record has getting beaten. And as I watch the event, majority of the swimmers are wearing this swim wear.

For details, these are the technology inside Speedo LZR Racer:

LZR PULSE

The suit is constructed from Speedo's unique LZR Pulse fabic. Ultra lightweight, powerful and water repellent, LZR Pulse reduces muscle oscillation and skin vibration through powerful compression. This fast drying fabric also offers low skin friction drag.

LZR PANELS

Ultra thin, ultra powerful, ultra low drag LZR Panels, embedded at strategic points on the swimmer's body deliver optimum streamlined shape and drag reduction.

CORE STABILIZER

The internal Core Stabilizer supports and holds the swimmer in a corset-like grip and helps them to maintain the best position in the water for longer.

BONDED SEAMS

The LZR RACER suit is the world's first fully bonded bodysuit. Ultrasonically welded, bonded seams create a perfectly smooth yet flexible streamlined surface.

ULTRA LOW PROFILE ZIP

Bonded into the suit to further maintain a smooth surface shape.

UNIQUE 3D THREE-PIECE PATTERN

Dynamically engineered to optimise the shape of the swimmer

Asafa Powell Debuts Leading-Edge Nike Zoom Aerofly

Nike’s deep focus on innovation for the Beijing includes work with one of the world’s fastest human beings – sprinter Asafa Powell. In his bid to reclaim dominance in the 100 meters, Powell today debuted the sleek and aerodynamically efficient Zoom Aerofly when he steps into the blocks in August.

The Zoom Aerofly is one of Nike’s most technologically advanced and lightest weight track and field offerings ever, designed to lock down the foot, grip the track, and provide advanced aerodynamic properties to shave valuable time off the clock.

Working closely with Powell and his style of running, Nike has incorporated leading-edge footwear innovation. Instead of more traditional stitched fabric panels, the upper’s super-strong, super-lightweight composition employs Nike’s revolutionary Flywire technology. Flywire emboldens the construction with 65 super-strong criss-crossed threads, or synthetic tendons, per shoe, woven from Vectran liquid-crystal polymer threads (a lightweight polymer. Like the cables on a suspension bridge, this construction method works to resist stretching, helping maintain lateral stiffness and locking in the heel and forefoot without adding extra weight. The heel-forefoot lockdown is further aided by Nike’s new lightweight lobe-technology collar, to help fill the area between the heel bone and ankle bone, helping avoid shoe slippage.

The Zoom Aerofly spike’s high-density glass-reinforced nylon spike plate, the same one Powell’s been wearing in his last two highly successful world-record seasons, provides a supremely strong and stable ride and amazing lightweight power transfer. The full-length plate is anatomically configured to work with the natural shape of the foot, keeping it in optimal sprint position. The eight-stud design allows for spike-length customization to accommodate any track and condition.

Weighing in at 186 grams (a normal track spike is in the 245-gram range), the wind-tunnel-tested Zoom Aerofly fits like a second skin. With Powell’s roughly 70 mph foot swing-through, the Zoom Aerofly helps reduce drag, in a sport where success is measured in hundredths of a second. In these shoes, says Nike’s Sean McDowell, “It looks like we spray-painted his feet.”

Powell’s Zoom Aerofly goes a step beyond the aerodynamic shroud, to also help tell the sprinter’s personal story. The upper offers a finish that emulates the spots on a cheetah – one of the world’s fastest sprinters – rendered in a fading Jamaican flag-esque white-to-yellow-to-green. This ultra-lightweight upper draws a further graphic distinction, converting some 10 spots into meaningful iconography for Powell. “We had many interviews with Asafa over the last few years as he prepares for the Games,” said Nike’s Sean McDowell. “These give him a little boost of inspiration as he steps up to the line.”

Spots include the image of the island of Jamaica, a speeding bullet, the likeness of one of his reggae music stars, a bass guitar (which Powell plays), a powerful and personally important biblical verse (Philippians 4:13), a fast car, the names of his deceased brothers Vaun and Michael, the “MVP” ensignia for his track club, and an image of the globe.

One of the world’s fastest men channels one of the world’s fastest creatures. Asafa Powell in the Nike Zoom Aerofly – it is destiny just waiting for the starter’s gun.

Highlights
• Nike’s most technologically advanced and lightest weight track and field offerings ever
• Super-strong, super-lightweight composition employs Nike’s revolutionary Flywire technology, using criss-crossed threads, or synthetic tendons woven from Vectran liquid-crystal polymer threads.
• Supremely lightweight at 186 grams)
• High-density glass-reinforced nylon spike plate provides a supremely strong and stable ride and lightweight power transfer
• Inspirational iconography

Olympics exhibition of fashion in sports clothing

The much awaited start of Beijing Olympics sparked yesterday and it's indeed quite marvelous. But aside from the competing players and the aim to reach for the gold let's still look at another part of this event which also plays an important role - the fashion in sports clothing in this Olympic Games. Different sportswear and the opening ceremony dresses to some extent reflect the various characteristics of each country.

We can find a variety of culture and customs through each outfit. The inspiration for many designs comes from national flags, especially their colors.

Italy

Italy deserves its reputation for being a fashion hot spot. I have always appreciated Dolce & Gabbana's designs. Its simple yet stylish look impresses many.

Australia

Their crisp, dark colors show their professional side, while the tie and scarf design depicts an elegant grace.

Germany

The German team does not wear black red and yellow – the colors of their flag – but a tasteful and classic gray and white combo.

France

Also known for its fashion sense, France keeps the Opening Ceremony bright with a hint of red.

Spain

Combining such flashy colors as yellow and red can be a challenge, but the Spanish excel, lighting up the Ceremony in the colors of their flag.

Greece

Greece chooses a summery and delicate white to grace the Opening Ceremony.

Ralph Lauren Olympics' Sports Clothing

It's not easy looking good when you're sweating up a storm. Just ask Olympic athletes. Not that fashion's the point. Still, it's always interesting to spot champions who manage to exhibit not just grace under pressure but style, too.

It's not enough to watch these athletes. We want to look like them. And feel, in some small way, like we're part of the team. This year we can - thanks to designers like Ralph Lauren, who've created gear for athletes in Beijing, plus versions for us weekend warriors back home. Here are some of the best.Lauren's looks

U.S. athletes hit the Beijing stadium Friday in tailored classics from Polo Ralph Lauren, an official outfitter of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Fans here can join in wearing knit sweater vests, track jackets, hoodies and an array of crisp polos decorated with flag patches (USA, Great Britain, Italy), racing stripes or - our favorite - Chinese lettering (it says "Beijing"). Available in adult and children's sizes at Polo Ralph Lauren, East Hampton and Manhattan, and ralphlauren.com.

Winning looks from Polo Ralph Lauren'’s Olympic Games Collection include Deontay Wilder, of the U.S. Boxing team, in a USA 08 polo with large Team USA logo on back, $125; archery hopeful Joy Fahrenkrog, in the Blue Label Olympic Games Character polo, $125; track and field hopeful Brianna Glenn, in Blue Label Olympic Games track jacket, $145; and Giuseppe Lanzone, of U.S. Rowing, in the Olympic Games polo, $125; men'’s shorts; ribbon belts, $55. (Polo Ralph Lauren)

Fashion V Sports Exhibition

V&A is staging the Fashion V Sport exhibition this summer! Exploring the connection and association of fashion and sports will be part of this. This will show how to street style give a big part on both industry.

The exhibition will showcase around 60 outfits from leading designers. It will also illustrate how designers like Dries van Noten and Kim Jones have reworked sportswear staples such as the grey jersey tracksuit into high fashion items.

An exhibition of DARE, DISPLAY, PLAY, and DESIRE:

Dare: Technical Innovation

Function and high performance are of primary concern in the design of sportswear. Companies invest a considerable amount of time and money into researching performance-enhancing garments and footwear.

Recently, fashion designers have integrated many of these technologies into their designs, often in direct collaboration with sports corporations. At the same time, sportswear has become increasingly fashionable and self-aware, often looking back at its own design history.

Display: Individuality and Uniformity

Sportswear or sports-inspired fashion may seem a uniform mode of dress. There is nothing more ubiquitous than a pair of trainers, a hooded jersey top and a pair of tracksuit bottoms. However, individuality is expressed through subtle differences and modifications. This section explores how homemade street adaptations - such as how laces are tied and adorned, or how tracksuits are worn - have inspired designers to reinterpret trainers and the tracksuit. It also looks at how the practice of customising has motivated the production of industrially customised goods sold by major sports companies.

Play: Exaggeration and Vibrancy

Sportswear first crossed over into casual wear because it was comfortable and affordable. Since then it has increasingly acquired its own sartorial language, one that is based on patterns and colours of performance sportswear but is often playful and highly exaggerated.

In manipulating the idea of sportswear, designers have pushed the boundaries of what trainers and sports clothes can look like. Witty, ironic and sophisticated, their work reflects the equally inventive customisation of sportswear that can be seen on the street.

Desire: Obsessive Behaviour

The area where fashion and sportswear coexist most comfortably is in the advertising and consumption of menswear and sport-related products. From case studies of a designer's obsession with football, via one-off, limited edition or cult design pieces, to expensive trainer and tracksuit collections, this section pinpoints the place in which sportswear's function has become almost redundant and instead its fashionability has become the key feature.

For more information visit Fashion V Sport

USA’s Olympics Sports Clothing by Nike

As the world prepares for the challenge of the Olympics, players are for sure ready to compete and show their long and painful hard work. Working and training hard is one of the key in reaching their target, but for Nike, a well formed athlete will be performing in an edge level when geared with their latest technology in sports clothing.

Aerographics

At Nike, less is always more, and that principle led to the creation of Aerographics, an engineered mesh that can remove up to half the yarn in a garment. Typically, adding a mesh panel to a shirt means sewing in mesh and adding seams that can bunch and chafe.

Instead, Aerographics allows designers to incorporate mesh directly into a garment without any extra materials. In fact, this new technique cuts weight by reducing the amount of material, while adding comfort and passive cooling to the garment itself. With Aerographics, athletes will be cooler just by dint of wearing the garment—no small matter given the heat and humidity in Beijing in August.

Aerographics uses a unique process to remove unnecessary fibers wherever you want only mesh on a garment. But, what makes Aerographics truly special is that, for the first time Nike can make a garment cooler while adding fully functional, country specific graphics designs. This unique process opens up a new door to create functional graphics relevant and unique to each Federation.

This technology will embrace the body of the athlete of the USA team especially in basketball and track and field division.

Flywire

In addition to Team USA’s uniform design, Kobe Bryant of the basketball team will be wearing the new USA Nike Hyperdunk colorway. The Nike Hyperdunk is 18 percent lighter than the average Nike basketball shoe and is the lightest and strongest basketball shoe Nike has ever created.

Imagine a paper-thin shoe, no more than two microns thick, whose only support comes from threads. This is Flywire. A revolutionary technology, its high-strength threads work like cables on a suspension bridge with support engineered precisely where a foot needs it. Flywire allowed Nike to make its lightest and strongest footwear ever, transforming how footwear is engineered by reducing the amount of material required for the upper of a shoe to the bare minimum. Thanks to this innovation, track spikes with Flywire are now under 100g – a weight never before achieved – without compromising on durability or integrity and support.

Such a precise placement of the Flywire filaments means the uppers are more like a second skin. The fabric is only there to keep out rocks and dirt. The threads provide all the support, and the new footwear provides a solution to what had been an unsolvable problem—slippage.

Walk or run in a shoe and with each step your foot slips. Your foot pulls back maybe just a millimeter, but over the course of a race those millimeters add up. Assuming a meter stride, over 1000 meters, could potentially equal a whole meter savings at the finish line—no small amount when the difference between first and third place is less than that.