Forbes Clothing caters to marine and beyond

by Jeni Bone on 16 Feb 2010 From rash tops and harnesses to corporate attire and heavy duty workwear, Forbes Clothing, based in Geelong, Victoria, is able to design or source the top quality item to suit your needs and budget.

As Fergus Forbes explains: “I started out doing screen printing and then, three years ago, began the uniform business. Now we cater to all industries with a variety of apparel and sailing gear. I do a lot of sailing so we do a lot of work in and around the marine industry.”

Sailing is a passion for Fergus, who enjoys racing TP52 called Cougar in Melbourne and a Sydney 38 in Geelong, the famous Cinquante.

About 18 months ago, Forbes Clothing took on the Gul brand from the UK, the iconic surf brand that originated in Cornwell more than 40 years ago and perhaps best known as the preferred brand of the British Olympic Team. “It’s the top surf and sailing brand in the UK and has a vast product range. The good thing about Gul is that is now carries uniforms as well as sailing gear, which makes it very versatile for businesses in the marine industry.”

During the 90s, Gul was at the forefront of design and material development. The introduction of Titanium layers, Stomatex, smart neoprene and free flex neoprene combined with a large design team and the latest CAD systems have kept the brand relevant to world-class sailing.

Forbes Clothing is also the Australian distributors of the Dryshirt and Prowik ranges of technical clothing from the US. “Dryshirt has a unique water repellent fabric that is great for all kinds of uses. It’s used by a lot of professional athletes in the US and around the world because it’s breathable and offers UPF 50+ sun protection.”

The material used in the Dryshirt range takes advantage of a proprietary fluorocarbon technology that allows the material to literally assist the body's thermoregulation process. Through nanotechnology, it remains water repellent from the outside while allowing sweat to breathe through the fabric from the inside out, delivering the most comfortable environment possible.

Prowik too uses high-tech moisture-management materials to ensure the wearer stays drier and to reduce stains on clothing.

Servicing Sydney and Melbourne markets with just a team of three, Fergus says he is “always looking for more corporate clients”.

“We can do any sort of uniforms from workwear or corporate or custom made items. We can also offer a made to order service, manufacturing your item in Australia or offshore to the tightest deadlines. “You can pretty much send us a scribble or a detailed plan or sample, and we can pull it apart and get it made.”

On the website www.forbesclothing.com.au the company is running a sale on the Gul line of wet weather gear, with substantial discounts on items including rashguards, T shirts, jackets and salopettes.

In March, Forbes clothing will be holding a 2009 stock clearance for the Gul range at a venue Melbourne. Watch this space for more details.