The Ainslie collection

New junior range launched by Henri Lloyd this weekend at the RYA Dinghy Show

At the RYA Dinghy Show this weekend marine clothing brand Henri Lloyd and double gold medallist and TeamOrigin skipper Ben Ainslie announced the launch of the Ben Ainslie Collection.

Ainslie worked in conjunction with the Henri Lloyd marine team to design this bespoke junior marine range which includes spray tops, hiking pants, rash vests and a selection of accessories, the collection all has a unique design and carries the Ben Ainslie signature.

According to Henri Lloyd the collection has been inspired by Ainslie’s sailing career. His sailing knowledge and experience was fundamental in the design and development of the range.

Ainslie commented: “I have been sailing since I was eight years old and know how important it is to be properly kitted out while on the water, therefore developing a junior clothing range was really important to me, especially if it will inspire young sailors. Henri Lloyd understands the needs of the sailor and we have designed a range that is fun and comfy which also enables you to move freely around the boat, once it’s on it works, and you can forget about it and focus on performing on the water”.

Among the collection is the Ainslie Hiking Shorts. These ¾ length neoprene shorts, have been designed to provide support, comfort and protection whilst hiking. The main feature of the shorts is the incorporation of strong non-flex battens which help the wearer to hike for longer periods of time.

As with all Henri Lloyd technical clothing, comfort is very important. The double thickness neoprene under the batten panels provides additional comfort to the sailor while the adjustable shoulder straps offer a more versatile fit.

Other features incorporated into the design are the protective knee pads and padded reinforced seat, which provide longevity and protection from deck abrasion. While the externally bound seams and the double thickness industrial strength batten covering, offer increased durability.

“It was a pleasure to work with Ben on the development of this range and the combination of our technical manufacturing experience and the valuable input from Ben has resulted in a great range of technical clothing and accessories for young sailors,” said Paul Strzelecki; Henri Lloyd Joint Chief Executive

Henri Lloyd and Ainslie have a long history together; Ainslie has been supported by the Manchester-based company since 1996, including both his Sydney and Athens gold medal winning successes and other big boat campaigns. At the Collins Stewart London Boat Show 2007, Henri Lloyd announced their continued sponsorship of him until after the 2012 London Olympics.