STUTTERHEIM RAINCOATS - SWEDISH MELANCHOLY AT ITS DRIEST!

Alexander Stutterheim's ambition is to make the only Raincoat you will ever need!  The unisex Arholme is hand crafted in Sweden, comes in five matt colours and with the provenance of the name of its Seamstress on the label.  “Swedish melancholy at its driest” is the company motto and Turners Marlow is one of the few stockists in the UK.

The design is from a Swedish Fisherman’s coat worn by the Grandfather of Alexander Stutterheim and generations of Swedish Fishermen.  “I wanted to produce a state-of-the-art raincoat. No Gore-Tex. No Velcro. No reflectors. Handmade.” It is sleek, discreet and understatedly stylish.  A Scandinavian classic it is has fully taped seams and is waterproof and windproof.   Great in stormy weather but also looks good enough for the City commute.   (Read Alexander Stutterheim's wonderful story of how he discovers his Grandfather's old Raincoat.)

Turners has been searching for a sleek stylish raincoat for some time and is delighted to become a UK Stutterheim Stockist.  Take a look at the Stutterheim Facebook page with images of Stutterheim Raincoat owners saying why they feel melancholy in the rain. 

There is also a really cool Stutterheim Rain App that tells you  if you are going to need a raincoat in the next few hours.  The Arholme retails at £435.  Remember it should last you a lifetime! (This week Kate Moss and Jamie Ince have been spotted in London wearing theirs.)

BELLISIMO, COLMAR SKI WEAR FOR WOMEN

Our new range of Colmar Ski Wear for Women has arrived!  Exclusive to Turners Marlow in the UK, the Colmar Ski Jackets & Colmar Ski Pants are sporty, glamorous, luxurious and technical.

The Ski Jackets are waterproofed up to 20,000mm and pants up to 18,000mm. This Season we also have a Colmar Ski Pant with 4 way stretch and a gorgeous dog-tooth Checked Ski Pant. Very Sixties!

For those wanting to look different from the UK Crowd.  Stiloso! Tecnico! Bellisimo!  We love it!

Barts Winter Hats - What's New from the Mad Hatter?

We love the new Barts Hats & Accessories Collection so much we have bought over 40 different styles! There are great new variations of the Trapper Hat in cord, a new Kamizu style, a new Inka hat with faux fur lining, as well as the Barts signature woollen Beanies and gorgeous deluxe faux fur Bombers. With lovely warm Kids Hats & Mittens Barts is a great brand for the whole family.

The Barts Company was launched by the enigmatic Dutch entrepreneur Bart Koene.  He began selling beach shorts he had run up on his sewing machine on the Beach at St. Tropez.  He lived in a caravan and drove an old Deux Chevaux.  In 1992 the Barts brand was launched which focused on handmade winter accessories.

We have met Bart several times and his entrepreneurial spirit is inspiring.  It is no surprise the Barts Winter Accessories Brand is now truly international.  Barts' mantra is " Do things right or don't do them at all." and that fun and freedom are equally as important as hard work. "Stick to what you believe in, even when its not easy."

The design team travel the world looking for new ideas and fabrics to add to the collection.  Almost as good as the days of a caravan on the beach in St. Tropez!

Run Lola Run! But in Technical Fabrics PLease!

When looking for Running Clothing the right type of fabric is essential. At Turners we stock technical  running clothing for Women and Men that looks good too.  From Striders Edge to The North Face and Casall.  A good sports bra, sweat wicking fabrics, and a light running jacket or running gilet will give you the comfort to run with confidence.

Five years ago who would have thought Cycle Club riders would be wearing Tour de France style technical clothing? The same revolution is about to happen in Running Clubs.  No more old cotton tees and joggers that leave you wet, sweaty chafed and cold.

Go for technical fabrics like DryFit, RapiDry, RapiTech, Coolmax and silk that wick away sweat and keep your body dry.  Our Striders Edge Running Tops are even climate mapped.   Designed to manage perspiration transportation more effectively in high sweat areas - an additional comfort factor.

Try out the technical fabrics - you will love the difference!

(Run Lola Run is one of David & Lynda's favourite films.  A German crime thriller about a woman that has 20 minutes to find 100,00 German Marks to save her boyfriend's life.  It is non-stop action with Lola constantly running. The theme deals with time and fate with three different endings to mark how one small change can change your life.)

Colmar Ski Jacket in Action!

It is always a great feeling when we get positive feedback from customers.  We have had some great comments about our Colmar Ski Jackets and Ski Pants: from "stand out style", to "extremely warm and breathable" to "absolutely  luxurious".

It was especially good to receive a photo of our Entrant Colmar Womens Ski Jacket and Stretch Colmar Ski Pant in action on the Austrian slopes.

Doesn't Shona look fab!

David thank you very much for your prompt service for both of my deliveries. Your shop looks amazing and I hope your business goes from strength to strength. I will recommend your customer service and excellent product range to my friends and associates. Please let me know what's left in the Colmar range at the end of the season and of course next seasons stock. I have had my eye on Colmar wear ever since I went skiing in La Thuile 5 years ago and I never thought I would actually own some one day! Kind regards. Shona Williams

Icebreaker Thermals - BaaCode Bonkers!

It looks like the Cold Weather may be with us this weekend and we believe the Icebreaker Merino Wool Base Layers are the best out there.  BaaCode Bonkers? Each Icebreaker Base Layer even has a unique BaaCode that can be traced back to  its original sheep farm.  See the wonderful Ray Anderson at Branch Creek Station:

Why wear Icebreaker Merino?  The Icebreaker Merino Sheep  live in the Southern Alps of New Zealand where their fleece has adapted to the extreme weather.  The wool is breathable in summer, highly insulating in winter, yet exceptionally soft and lightweight. It is also easy to care for and unlike some synthetic base layers does not retain odour!  Now that makes the Apres Beers on the run home more civilised!

It's perfect for skiers, runners, hikers, cyclists, mountain bikers and a host of other athletes or simply to keep you warm in extreme weather.  Take a look at the Icebreaker Website for more interesting facts.  Or take a look at Turners Icebreaker styles.

Happy Chinese New Year of the Water Dragon

Hail mighty Dragon! Your arrival is most welcome.

We celebrated Chinese New Year with dear friends and a delicious Chinese Takeaway from the Peking Inn.  If you are free this weekend the Celebrations in London Sunday the 29th January are wonderful. 

The Dragon is the major symbol of good fortune in Chinese Astrology and brings in the Four Blessings of the East: wealth, virtue, harmony and longevity. Of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac the Dragon is the most special as it is a mystical being rather than an earthly animal (the last time the Water Dragon made an appearance was in 1952).

Since 1996 the year element has been in a destructive relationship with the fixed element of the animal sign. The year 2012 is blessed not only by the lucky Dragon but also the end of that destructive cycle.

Furthermore, it is a Yang year. Yang Water is like a flowing river rather than a stagnant lake. Things will move, ideas flow, creativity abound, economies boom, and love blossom in this environment.  The Dragon is a reminder everyone has dreams, and that the time to pursue them is now. The Dragon gives you the best chance to make it come true!

In our family, David is a Dragon, Lynda a Dog and Imogen a Ram.  Should be David's year! (Now where's that Euro millions ticket?...)

Fresh Snow! Its Dumping Powder! Its Winter Heaven!

We were kept on our toes. But the Alpine snow came in time for Christmas and in January we now have Powder Heaven.

I want to be there!

To share belly laughs, fun and adventures with good friends. To feel the sun on my face and the bite of the pure air. To enjoy the peace of that off-the-beaten track run and taste the warming glu-vine of the log cabin lunch. To watch our kids amazing progress.......(Sorry! I could go on and on..)

The ski season is under way at Turners and I can't help feel a pang of jealousy when I hear a customer mention Obergurgl, Courcheval, Zermatt, Courmayer. Its always interesting to find out where people are going and to hear about favourite resorts bars and restaurants.

We have some great ski wear this season. The Mens Triclimate Jackets are proving very popular. These can be worn together for extreme cold, or as a shell or light down jacket for Spring skiing. We have the Triclimate North Face Ski Jacket with red accents or the Revelstoke Spyder Ski Jacket with lime Green Down inner jacket and matching lime green pants. The look for Men this season is very much about the loud pant.

For Women we have our luxurious retro look Colmar Ski Jackets exclusive to Turners Marlow in the UK, the glamourous Adama Womens Napapijri Ski Jacket, Spyder Womens Ski Jackets and The North Face Womens Amore Down Ski Jackets.

Team these with our Merino Wool Icebreaker thermals and extra warm ski gloves.

To complete the look we have the iconic and really useful Napapijri Equator holdalls. We also have The North Face Base Camp Duffel Bags in various sizes.

Now, what was the name of that Chalet in Austria, that might have some space Half Term?.....