New togs for Oxford's Blues Teams
THIS WEEK SAW the launch of Oxford's new range of branded designer sports and leisurewear, showcased at the Iffley Road Sports Complex on Monday and the Town Hall on Wednesday evening.
University Sports Club captains modelled the clothing range - branded Dark Blue - which comprises everything from baseball caps to hooded tops and fleeces and has been dubbed "classic yet trendy."
As the range has been designed to reflect the sporting heritage of the University and its sports clubs, the new catalogue has used University students as models.
It is hoped that the brand - spear-headed by the University Sports Federation - will provide much-needed funds to improve sports facilities.
Profits will be shared among Oxford's sports clubs and used to fund projects, which include a second sports hall at Iffley Road, two new indoor tennis courts and a women's sports centre at Marston Road.
The clothes are intended to be a more up-market brand than the traditional University leisurewear, and are set to hit the University shop within the next two weeks. Plans are in the pipeline to launch it nationally within the year.
The logo - a reversed 'd' and 'b' - is the only sign of the University's involvement in the clothing range. Serena Gosling, the President of the Sports Federation, stressed that emphasis is being placed on quality rather than the 'Oxford' name. "This is an exciting period for Oxford sport, and the University's teams have won around 70% of the Varsity matches so far." She said: "Many smaller clubs which are unable to attract corporate sponsorship, rely on debt-ridden students for funding, and we are hoping Dark Blue clothing will generate the money to put an end to this." Serena hopes that the clothing range will continue to thrive in the future.
4th May 2000