Banana Moon Workshop News

Prepare to pay more for clothing in 2009

2008-08-08T05:19:00.000-07:00

This is the message that world economic conditions are giving to us all.

The rising price of oil and raw materials
The global energy shortage
Rising cotton costs
Global cotton shortage
Rising employment costs in the Far East

The recent excellent TV documentary Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts highlighted the problems of child labour, poor conditions and low pay in Indian sweatshops. We like to think that as responsible buyers, most concerned consumers will be happy to pay a little extra to fund improvements in the working conditions in the Far East.

Indeed for the first time I can remember we have been hit by half yearly increases on many products. Further increases are expected at the end of the year as well.

All our brands have an ethical policy in place. Click here to view Banana Moon’s ethical policy.

A flagship brand is Awdis who are members of W.R.A.P (http://www.wrap.org.uk/).

Superb hoodies such as the JH001 and the new children’s hoody (JH001B) supplied at a fair price and manufactured in good conditions. The times are a changing as the song says for our industry.

I am sure they are changing for the better.

What do you think? We would appreciate your comments on this subject.

Everybody's going hoody mad...

2008-03-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

We sold so many hoodies last year that all we could think of for 2008 was to expand the hoody ranges as much as possible.

It had become clear that they were being asked for in all sorts of weird and wonderful colours.

Whatever the purpose, ski trips, theatre productions, school and college leavers, school enterprise sales, everyone wants a hoody!

So here we are...

We have introduced the JH001 pullover hoody - it's a great item with exciting colours such as

airforce blue
baby pink
burnt orange
caramel
cranberry
fire red
hot chocolate
hot pink
lime green
moss green
red hot chilli
purple
sapphire blue
sun yellow
true violet

At last we even have an olive green for the military, and...of course we have jet black.

Even though there is a massive demand for weird colours in hoodies , black is always the clear fave.

The GD57 heavyweight hooded sweatshirt by Gildan is new - a great soft feel hoody with a big choice of colours, it is building on the success of the GD54 ultrablend hoody, now a perennial fave.

For those wanting a good quality hoody at the cheapest price, look no further than the W71 hoody by Cottonridge... it comes in a terrific range of colours:

navy
grey
candy pink
pink
powder blue
cornflower
black
brown
lime green

It starts from just £7.95 + VAT embroidered... great value, great hoody!

You might be surprised to learn we now sell a lot more pullover syle hoodies than full zip styles.

But if it's great colours you're after, look at the GD58 heavyweight full zip hoody by Gildan, or the wonderful SS16M full zip hoody by Fruit of the Loom.

Is there anything else you would like in hoodies? New colours, different styles,etc?

We would love to hear from you, so let us know!

Soft Shell - The Outdoor Phenomenon of 2007

2007-10-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Now we at Banana Moon don’t often get too excited about new fabrics but the regularity with which personalised Soft Shell jackets are leaving our warehouse, its all beginning to change.

We all wear fleece jackets, warm, comfortable, cheap to buy and great value.

Over the years they have become the backbone of our jacket sales. Indeed they seem to have been around for ever. At last an up-market successor has arrived on the scene!

It’s soft shell
It’s sexy!
Multi-purpose!
A great performance garment
And finally.....it’s just so fashionable!

OK, it’s more expensive but who cares, it offers so much more and it offers a much wider choice.

Ladies fitted styles, men’s and even body warmers now.

It’s light in weight and warm
It has a younger, sportier look than fleece.
It can be embroidered or printed
It’s water resistant, breathes and yet is windproof
It’s the ideal garment for all outdoor activities...

Yachting, event wear, golf, all fitness markets, skiing, hiking and walking.

Yes, even perfect for watching Bradford City football club on a cold Friday night in Morecambe.

It’s not going to be long before everyone discovers soft shell for general wear and when they do, watch sales go BANANAS!

For 2008, there will be more styles and choice and sexier colours.

We can’t wait!