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Maide’s new apparel collection excels from top to bottom

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When Maide launched just over a year ago, the rookie golf apparel label had a very simple, but audacious goal in mind — design a great-looking pair of pants that will fit better than any other trousers in your closet.

If Bonobos, Maide’s parent company, does one thing really well, it’s pants. The company has at least 45 varieties of cotton twill, corduroy and wool trousers that aspire to achieve a made-to-measure fit at ready-to-wear prices. Branching out into golf seemed like a no-brainer, especially considering many of the company’s executives are avid golfers, including Ian Velardi. As the Director of Design at Bonobos and head designer for Maide, Velardi is responsible for fabric and trim sourcing, garment development and color direction for both brands.

“We built such a healthy business with Bonobos and we have this built-in customer base,” Velardi says. “I think a lot of our Bonobos customers are golfers and it just made sense to cater to them (especially since we’re known for our pants). Plus, we didn’t see anything out there in the market that was indicative of being the ideal golf pant.”

The new Fall 2014 collection from Maide is what software engineers would affectionately describe as being fully baked. The Spring collection of past years had pieces that played well together, but the colorful light sweaters and golf shirts always seemed like a secondary consideration. The new collection is thoughtful and all grown up. Pants continue to be the strength of the line, but the new sweaters and outerwear pieces designed by Velardi haven’t missed a detail, blending a sophisticated style with all the performance and fit a Maide customer has come to expect from the brand.

maide-collection

Vintage golf inspirations are the brand’s DNA. The brand is designed to appeal to a customer who cares about what he wears to the course, but doesn’t want anyone to think he has a team stylists consulting him. If you want to identify with a style icon, think of a young Arnold Palmer. Or a Davis Love III. Or an Adam Scott.

“Our idea of the customer is based on a person who lives in the city and is fashion-conscious, but is also active,” Velardi says. “He wants to look good and be comfortable, but doesn’t want to look like their dad on the golf course. He wants to wear something that has more attention to detail and especially attention to fit. It’s still rooted in classic American feel, but is modernized.”

The best-selling Highland pant ($108) which combines superior fit with standout performance thanks to a breathable poly fabric has been updated for the season with a new button enclosure, more subtle branding and new colors that include khaki, black, navy, grey, white, stone, sapphire, deep pine and toasted coconut.

maide-highland

The pant comes in two fits: slim and standard. The slim fit is a little narrower overall, noticeably tapered through the leg. The standard fit is far from boxy; it’s actually a little trimmer than the Polo RLX line and features a slit zipper on the bottom of each leg, allowing you to adjust the drape as needed. Both editions of the Highland pant feature a curved waistband that promotes a snug, but comfortable fit. A silicone strip sewn into the waist keeps your shirt from riding up and out of your pants as you’re swinging a club. The pockets, which tend to be a forgotten-about feature for most golf apparel brands, are also well thought out. There’s ample room in both the front and back pockets for stashing scorecards, tees, balls and yardage books.

MaideGolf

As good as the pants look (and they look great), they perform even better. The poly stretch fabric allows complete freedom of movement and there’s never any bunching or sagging. They’re the kind of pants you can wash repeatedly, never bother to iron and yet depend on retaining a fresh-off-the-hanger look.

Not to be outdone, Maide also offers a trouser made from premium Italian cotton with a hint of stretch. The Palmetto ($138) is a step up the style ladder. The pants are classically tailored and feature adjustable tabs at the waist in place of belt loops. These pants are more than capable of handling a round of golf. Pair them up with one of Maide’s new fall sweaters that are designed to keep you warm without adding bulk. The Duke of Argyle cotton v-neck ($88) takes an age-old fashion trope and reinterprets it into an understated diamond knit pattern. Maide also offers a slightly more performance-oriented crew-neck they affectionally call the Dew Sweeper ($98) made from a blend of Woolmark Coolmax and extra-fine merino wool.

maide-dew

Velardi loves the challenge of designing active apparel that doesn’t scream golf clothing.

“We have this idea that we like to call stealth tech,” Velardi says. “Our clothing is not overly technical like say the stuff from Puma. Ours are in the fibers — the stuff you can’t see. This way you can still perform but you’re not going to look like you’re wearing really technical clothes.”

Within the new collection, the lifestyle influence is unmistakably imprinted on outerwear. The brand strikes a bold move introducing a navy blazer ($298). It’s a stylish two-button jacket made from 100 percent premium Italian cotton knit piqué that can survive being unceremoniously rolled up in a ball and shoved into a golf bag. It’s a great accessory to have on hand and slip into at a country club or an upscale golfing event.

maide-duke

Maide’s other outerwear piece, a golf vest, is wearable on and off the course. The Wescoe ($168) is Velardi’s favorite item from the new collection and that isn’t surprising. The outside of the vest is a poly shell that is water-resistant and wind-proof. The inner lining is 100 percent cotton. It’s actually pretty warm for a light-weight jacket.

The vest features a packable hood and snap pockets, plus a hidden storage pocket in the back. It’s versatile enough to handle just about anything Mother Nature throws at you this season apart from a good, old-fashioned downpour. From a performance standpoint, The Wescoe is extremely comfortable to wear and swing in a club in. It’s going to make believers out of many golfers who tend to struggle to find a jacket that mimics the comfort of a golf shirt.

“We paid a lot of attention to the shape of the arm-hole so that it gives you a lot of good arm movement and mobility,” Velardi says. “The shoulder point-to-point is pretty narrow so that it doesn’t overhang and get in the way of your swing.”

maide-westcoe

Maide’s fall collection is available for purchase directly through the Bonobos website. The parent company launched in 2007 as an e-commerce-driven retailer focused on delivering a world-class fit and superior customer service. In 2011, Bonobos expanded its services offline, opening a handful of showrooms called Guideshops where customers could work one-on-one with a stylist to experience the brand in person.

In keeping with the company’s expansion opportunities, Maide can also be purchased on the web at Trendy Golf and Trunk Club. The brand has also developed relationships with New York Golf Center, PGA Tour Superstore and a growing list of exclusive green grass shops including but not limited to Shinnecock Hills, Medalist and Aronimink golf clubs.

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Rusty Cage is a contributing writer for GolfWRX, one of the leading publications online for news, information and resources for the connected golfer. His articles have covered a broad spectrum of topics - equipment and apparel reviews, interviews with industry leaders, analysis of the pro game, and everything in between. Rusty's path into golf has been an unusual one. He took up the game in his late thirties, as suggested by his wife, who thought it might be a good way for her husband to grow closer to her father. The plan worked out a little too well. As his attraction to the game grew, so did his desire to take up writing again after what amounted to 15-year hiatus from sports journalism dating back to college. In spite of spending over a dozen years working in the technology sector as a backend programmer in New York City, Rusty saw an opportunity with GolfWRX and ran with it. A graduate from Boston University with a Bachelor's in journalism, Rusty's long term aspirations are to become one of the game's leading writers, rising to the standard set by modern-day legends like George Peper, Mark Frost and Dan Jenkins. GolfWRX Writer of the Month: August 2014 Fairway Executive Podcast Interview http://golfindustrytrainingassociation.com/17-rusty-cage-golf-writer (During this interview I discuss how golf industry professionals can leverage emerging technologies to connect with their audience.)

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Sean P

    Nov 17, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Wish we could get this in the UK, looks good.

  2. nikkyd

    Nov 14, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Wow! My $20 izods shorts from the mens department at jcpenny have green rubbery silicone stuff on the inside of the waistband too! I want to know what brand the big boys like els, mickelson, weekly, dejong wear. That skinny slack look looks terrible on guys like me. And uncomfortable too!

    • nikkyd

      Nov 14, 2014 at 11:40 pm

      I may add also, the best golf outfit i ever did see, was worn by kevin costner in Tin Cup. In the scene where he qualifies for the open. With a 7 iron. Now thats an outfit. Not loud, but nice looking and probably better yet…comfortable

  3. Pat

    Nov 14, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    100+dollars for a pair of trousers??? I’m not rich by any stretch of the imagination but I’m not dirt poor either. Even if I had the money to throw away on this brand I would rather spend it on golf lessons. This proves that golf is definitely for the wealthy and is becoming more out of reach for the “common” man.

  4. Arnold P.

    Nov 14, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    The fit looks a little too much like skinny jeans for me. I’ll stick with my tailor.

  5. Tip o'kneel

    Nov 14, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    A silicone strip SOWN into the waist keeps your shirt from riding up and out of your pants as YOUR swinging a club.

    • Ron R.

      Nov 14, 2014 at 3:00 pm

      You’re. Smartipants.

      • Tip

        Nov 14, 2014 at 3:53 pm

        Look, if I’m going to be subjected to product pushing, then the least you can do is proof your work. If I put this in front of a client, I’d get laughed out of the room.

        Btw…the pants are a nice pick up if you have an opportunity…

  6. Drew R.

    Nov 14, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    I love the Highland pants and maide sweaters. I would prefer if they created some shirts with moisture wicking materials.

  7. Jamie Eck

    Nov 14, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    I just got a pair of these pants and they are great. My favorite part is the material they have around the inside of the waistband. It keeps your shirt tucked in at all times without feeling like it is pulling it down.

  8. AZ Golfman

    Nov 14, 2014 at 11:41 am

    Being 6’5″, its always been hard to find good golf pants that fit well. Once i found out that bonobos sold 36″ inseam, my prayers were answered! i have several pairs of bonobos pants that i wear for work and golf and the fit is very tailored. I get compliments on them all the time.

  9. Peter Kratsios

    Nov 14, 2014 at 10:36 am

    I have been playing golf for 10 years and have never been loyal to a clothing brand before this year. However, that changed when I bought a pair of the Highland pants at the beginning of golf season, and realized how much a quality pair of pants influenced the golf swing. I have several pants and even a few golf shirts from Maide.

    Love what you guys are doing over there, keep it up!

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Whats in the Bag

Max Homa WITB 2024 (April)

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  • Max Homa what’s in the bag accurate as of the Masters. 

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Red 80 TX

5-wood: Titleist TSR2 (21 degrees @19.25, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 9 TX

Irons: Titleist T100S (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 620 (6-9)
Shafts: KBS $ Taper 130 (4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60)
Shafts: KBS $ Taper 130 (46) KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X (50, 56), KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 125 X (60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5.5 Proto

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

More photos of Max Homa’s WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2024 (April)

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Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75g 6.5

Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver (11.5 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75g 6.5

  • Unconfirmed. We are working to gather details.

5-wood: Krank Formula Fire

  • Unconfirmed. We are working to gather details.

Irons: Avoda Prototype (5-PW)
Shafts: LA Golf Prototype

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 (46-12S @45, 50-12S, 56, 60)
Shafts: LA Golf Prototype

Putter: SIK Pro C-Series Armlock/LA Golf Proto
Shaft: LA Golf C2L-180
Grip: JumboMax JumboFlat 17

Grips: JumboMax UltraLight XL

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash

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Equipment

Accra launches new GX wood and hybrid shafts

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Accra Golf shafts have long been synonymous with fitting, and the new GX line of driver, fairway, and hybrid shafts continues that legacy.

Since 2004, Accra has been making high-end performance golf shafts that use the latest in materials and design philosophy. Their group of around 350 fitters are some of the best and most highly ranked in the world. While you might see other brands on professional tours more often, there are plenty of touring pros using Accra products and winning.

Accra’s new GX line of shafts is designed to offer a consistent and accurate shaft to a wide range of players. The GX line consists of 3 different shafts in driver, fairway, and hybrid designs.

The Accra GX shafts are designed for fitters to dial in golfers to the perfect shaft for their swing. Accra included a ton of technology into the GX line including their S3 profiling, DyMatch, and Constant Flex technology. DyMatch has been Accra’s quest to ensure that all shafts in a family feel and perform similar from driver to hybrid or iron shaft. Typically shafts get stiffer as they go up in weight, but Accra’s Constant Flex keeps the flex of the shafts consistent so fitters and golfers can dial in the weight that the golfer need without have to work around a stiffer or softer flex. Accra worked with Cool Clubs to build out its S3 Shaft Profiling system that not only allows a quick and easy EI profile of any shaft, it helps with quality control to ensure shafts come out of production exactly as they were designed.

Accra GX Red 300 Series

GX Red is lowest launching and spinning option in the GX line. Driver shafts have fewer options with just the 360 and 370 models that come in at 63 and 71 grams. The GX Red is made for faster swinging, or stronger, players who require a stiff (M4) or x-stiff (M5) shaft for their swing. Fairway and hybrid models are also on the higher weight side with the fairway clocking in at 80g and 90g for the hybrid. Accra designed this series with one of the stiffest tip sections of any Accra shaft in the current line, and while it is built to control launch and spin, the Red 300 Series will still offer that smooth feel.

Accra GX Green 100 Series

If your swing usually works best with mid-launch and spin, then the GX Green 200 series might be the right shaft for you. Offered in more weight and flex options, you can get a GX Green in 52 grams and all the way up to 70 grams in regular, stiff, and x-stiff flexes. GX Green will give the player a smooth feel and transition from the handle down to the tip section while still providing great stability and consistency. Accra also focused on the energy transfer of this shaft, and golfers can see some increased ball speed compared to other shafts.

Accra GX Blue 200 Series

While the GX Blue 100 Series is the highest launching and spinning option in the GX lineup, it will still give golfers the control and consistency they need. Starting off at 40g, the GX Blue series puts an emphasis on lighter weight to allow players to swing the club faster, promoting more distance. Accra touts the stability of the GX 140 Blue driver shaft by stating that some long driver competitors have put it in play to try and gain every MPH they can. Matching fairway and hybrid shafts are both on the lighter side at around 60g for the fairway and 65g for the hybrid depending on the flex.

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