Henri Lloyd was one of the first technical clothing manufacturers to design and produce a women's technical waterproof sailing jacket.
That was in 1986 and the jacket was called The Voyager. Constructed from Bri-Nylon, it incorporated the Henri Lloyd characteristics of taped seams, storm flap zip and foldaway hood. As with the current range, the jacket came in a variety of sizes and colours designed specifically for women.
Since then, Henri Lloyd women's products have included the Women's Offshore Jacket and the TP3 Women's Reflex jacket and hi-fits and the company endeavours to introduce women specific products into the technical range each year.
Sailing is one of the few sports when men and women can compete on even terms and at the same level. More women than ever now take part in sailing. At Skandia Cowes Week 2007 around a third of the 8,500 competitors were female.
Henri Lloyd says that in order to perform to your best potential, garments need to fit correctly - and gone are the days when women would accept wearing men's garments in smaller sizes.
For 2008, the company has designed and introduced a collection of women's clothing alongside the men's collection, including Fast-Dri, Core (thermal), Dinghy/Sportboat, Offshore and Coastal/Inshore ranges. The collection offers a selection of more feminine colours including an attractive sea blue and signal red. There is also a new range of women's technical footwear.
Women's Hi-Fits incorporate a drop seat and also a higher bib for additional protection, as well as being shaped for the female figure for additional comfort.
Women's jacket designs takes into account the smaller female stature: the arms are further articulated and are shorter and more slender, while the shape of the jacket takes into account the female figure.
Henri Lloyd has worked alongside some of the world's best female sailors, including double Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson, and round the world sailor Dee Caffari, who is the company's Ocean and Offshore Range Ambassador.
“Henri Lloyd is renowned for the quality of their technical sailing clothing and I am thrilled that they will be supporting me throughout my Aviva Ocean Racing campaign,” said Dee.
“We plan to work closely together over the next two years to further develop their technical marine range which will not only benefit me during the Vendee Globe but also future Henri Lloyd customers.”
