Men Fashion: Lotus Originals

February 2011 sees the exciting launch of new luxury lifestyle brand, Lotus Originals. Inspired by the stylish Lotus car principles of authenticity, innovation and design excellence, the debut collection is a refined, cohesive range of luxury apparel, leather goods and performance outerwear that reflect the craftsmanship, heritage and spirit of Lotus. This new brand concept has launched exclusively on the Lotus website www.lotusoriginals.com.

High quality and attention to detail are key, with Loro Piana 100% cashmere yarn used in block coloured sweaters and knitted at 18 gauge for a lightweight but supersoft touch. Cardigans and V-neck knits are textured in wide stripes to create a tyre-track effect with white armband detail hinting at race track road markings.

Polo shirts and T-shirts feature double stitch edging and a playful approach to branding, with vintage Lotus logos, racing stripes and car silhouettes. Block colour numbers relate to the dates of famous racing victories of the 1960s and 70s, as well as 1948 - the year that Lotus founder Colin Chapman built the first car.

A hand-treated leather jacket, inspired by the 1970s drivers’ suits, uses authentic design details in the form of protective quilted padding on the shoulders and a two-button side-fasten collar. A beautiful navy quilted coat with tan leather trim epitomises the ‘Gentleman Driver’ ideal, with a discreet Lotus crest and luxurious fleece lining. Authentic and quintessentially British in its understated luxury and everyday classic style, these key pieces redefine racing chic as the ultimate gentleman’s sportswear choice for 2011.

Sneaker of the Week - PUMA Clyde

Sports lifestyle brand PUMA® has partnered with legendary culture brand, Undefeated, to launch the Undefeated (UNDFTD) Collection with PUMA, a special collection centered around one of PUMA’s most iconic and celebrated styles: The PUMA Clyde. This long term project will make Undefeated a true design partner with PUMA, designing a collection of PUMA Clydes that will be released beginning in April and

throughout 2011 and beyond.

The partnership between PUMA and Undefeated is about pushing boundaries and refreshing a classic style and icon, The PUMA Clyde. Undefeated and PUMA explored trends in the marketplace and collaborated to interpret these fashion and lifestyle nuances into footwear styles that are inclusive of both brands. The first release from the collection will be on April 10th followed by another release on June 10th, and many more throughout 2011 and beyond. Consumers can expect to see clean lines and a unique exploration of materials and textures.

The PUMA Clyde was chosen for this project not only for its significance to the PUMA brand, but also to sneaker history and pop culture. Customized for basketball great and current announcer for The New York Knicks Walt “Clyde” Frazier in 1973, the Clyde was the first signature basketball shoe. Built on performance and style, it immediately became a mainstay on the court and on the street. As a statement shoe, it was part of the uniform for cultural artists – DJs, b-boys, musicians and graffiti artists. With its clean and classic styling, the PUMA Clyde continues to be on-trend today.