Monday, February 18, 2019

Galvin Green and the Evolution of Golf Clothing: Game Changing Technology for the Serious Golfer

When Galvin Green decided to concentrate exclusively on the game of golf in the 1990s, they were about to start a revolution that would completely change the way golfers view their golf clothing.  The golf apparel market was vastly different than it is today, and waterproofs were heavy, unwieldy rain suits that restricted your swing, came in just a few uninspiring colors (mostly black and navy), and didn’t always keep out the rain. 
 

Company founder Tomas Nilsson and chief designer Mats Lundqvist recognized this gap in the market for a new and better type of waterproof clothing, and in 1992 Galvin Green introduced garments in bold new colors that used the best waterproof technology and famous GORE-TEX laminate.  

 Since this quantum leap in wet-weather apparel, Galvin Green has pioneered many of the fabric advances and design features that give today's serious golfers absolute confidence to handle any weather conditions on any course in the world. 

 Golf Apparel Evolution
Since Young Tom Morris strode the fairways in his heavy duty jacket and trousers, topped off with a formal shirt and tie and Tam-O'Shanter hat, golf clothing has been revolutionized in weight, appearance and performance. 
 

A complete outfit worn today by a Galvin Green Tour player amounts to around half the weight of Young Tom's jacket, and it can also be waterproof and windproof with stretch fabric that makes it easier to swing a club. 

Early pioneers of the game took uniformed dress seriously, and red jackets were worn by society members to identify them as golfers, especially on common land used by non-golfers for recreation.  This tradition has evolved to the point where modern club members show their allegiance to the game by wearing crested sweaters, polo shirts, ties and caps. 

 

From the outset, standards of dress on the golf course were prescribed for both men and women, but until more recent history the options were fairly limited since keeping warm on exposed Scottish links courses was often the main priority. 

 

Golf fashion reached its height of popularity in the 1920s and 1930s with the introduction of knitwear.  Wearing the iconic "plus-fours," Fair Isle jumpers and Argyle socks became the go-to look for fashionable young men during this period.  For women (as their roles in society developed) clothing loosened up and gave greater freedom of movement, compared to the corsets and high-neck collars of the Edwardian period. 

 

With the coming of color TV coverage in the 1960s, players became extremely visible on the course, more aware of their image, and money started flowing into the sport with a greater emphasis on brand partnerships.  Styles became more streamlined, with lightweight fabrics that enabled players to maximize their athletic abilities. 

 

The burning desire to improve and enjoy playing the game in a variety of weather conditions fueled a move to apparel with more performance benefits, while looking good on the course grew more important as younger golfers began playing the game because of the "Tiger Effect." 

The Galvin Green Standard 
Like the serious golfer feels about their game, Galvin Green is devoted to the sport, and never compromises or leaves anything to chance.  Each decision is carefully weighed after appraising every option, down to the very last detail, and this has been the company's driving purpose and standard since the beginning. 

 

In 1996 Galvin Green introduced an industry milestone with the first 3-layer WINDSTOPPER garment to prevent wind chill.  And when Joakim Haeggman (the leading Swedish player at the time and first Swede to play in a European Ryder Cup team in 1993) won the Volvo Scandinavian Masters in 1997 wearing Galvin Green clothing, this propelled the premium brand even deeper into the market. 

 

Seven years later Galvin Green developed another technological advancement in golf apparel with their (somewhat radical) GORE-TEX PACLITE jacket.  Offering professional, competitive, and more casual golfers alike a lighter, more packable alternative to traditional waterproofs was genius. 

 
 
 

Pockets and inner linings were stripped away to streamline styling and provide a more functional, lightweight waterproof garment.  The result became a jacket that minimized swing restriction and maximized performance. 

Galvin Green's relentless commitment to excellence has resulted in their garments being trusted by multiple European Ryder Cup teams, countless PGA And European Tour players, and an ever-growing number of both serious and recreational golfers who value the combination of high performance and fashionable styling above all else. 

 
 

A History of Cutting-Edge Innovation 
Galvin Green has pushed the boundaries of what's possible in golf apparel ever since taking an unprecedented 39 pages of advertising in 1992 in a single edition of Sweden's biggest golf magazine. 

The first half-zip waterproofs were introduced in 1998, followed by fly-zip trousers, adjustable chest tabs, rain-channeled cuffs, and stretch fabric inserts.  The first GORE-TEX waterproofs and trousers made from full stretch material came in 2008, and four-way stretch fabrics were introduced just three years later. 

 

In 2004 Galvin Green pioneered MULTI-LAYER CONCEPT (MLC).  Before MLC golfers had limited options for wet weather apparel, usually a polo and a bulky waterproof jacket without breathability.  Galvin created a new range of complementary products designed to be worn and work as a set.  

Compression base layers would trap heat and increase blood flow.  Warm layers including cool, moisture-wicking shirts would replace uncomfortable garments that had retained moisture.  And an outer shell layer would provide an outer shield to ward off the wind and rain.  As the weather conditions changed during your round, you simply added or removed suitable layers as appropriate to maintain a consistent performance level. 

 

In 2010 the revolutionary VENTIL8 fabric was applied to shirts and trousers.  In 2013 Galvin entered the US market in 2013.  And in 2016 and 2018 it became the Official Supplier of all-weather apparel to the European Ryder Cup teams.  Galvin Green is clearly a company dedicated to pushing the limits in what's possible in waterproof and windproof golf apparel.

2019 Collection 
You guys have seen me play in some pretty crazy conditions over the last few years.  High winds, driving rain, cold temperatures - it doesn't matter.  If a course is open, I'll be out there playing.  




Sure it would be nice if it was 75-degrees and sunny every time we teed it up, but that's just not golf.  And besides, I genuinely enjoy the challenge of playing in varied weather conditions.  It also helps me give you the best, most thorough equipment reviews by showing you how different gear performs in different conditions. 

 

And that's why I'm especially excited to be reviewing some Galvin Green pieces from the 2019 Collection, which includes garments from the new CARBON Series and the introduction of new GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY technology.  Here's a preview of their latest collection, and you can also check out details from their website here.  I spent some time with Galvin Green at the PGA Show, and came away extremely impressed with their integrity and passion to provide the absolute best apparel whatever the weather conditions. 

 
 

Now I'm not saying bad weather is going to become my favorite weather to play in just because I'm wearing Galvin Green.  But I'm already pretty sure taking on the elements is going to be more fun than ever.
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