Henri-Lloyd comes to town

Henri-Lloyd has opened a boutique to become the latest a row of high profile fashion retailers on Military Road in the upper-crust Sydney suburb of Mosman. The garments and accessories, which cover men's and women's wear, are based around sailing - but definitely for passengers rather than crew.
Like some other manufacturers of specialist occupation garments,(Driasabone and Yakka for example) the 100-year-old British manufacturer of marine wear established a fashion segment some 25 years ago. It now has a presence throughout Europe and Scandinavia both at wholesale and retail level.
Henri-Lloyd garments first appeared in Australia 18 months ago when marine wear specialist Burke Pty Ltd became the Australian distributor and offered the garments to upmarket retailers. Director Alex Burke said the opening of the Henri-Lloyd boutique is not intended to compete with other retailers running the label but will act as a showcase where the full range of products can be seen together. There are no plans to open other Henri-Lloyd boutiques, she said.
Henri-Lloyd marketing director Graham Allen, who had travelled from the UK to officially open the store, said his company was planning to promote the brand for steady rather than spectacular growth. He said the showcase stores throughout the world all followed the same colour and fit-out design. In the case of the new Mosman shop, the nautical white timber panels and stained decking racks - even the flooring - had been specially imported to meet company standards.
The garments fit into the sub-designer segment of the market where you might find Ralph Lauren Polo and La Coste. Prices are contained rather than challenging (a long sleeved knitted top in cotton, for instance, retails at $149)and will benefit from a rise in brand awareness over time. The garments are sourced both from China and Europe, with an emphasis on quality and good taste rather than fad fashion.