PRO GuIDe
Merlin - heritage , safety and style
Founded in 2011 , Merlin is a relatively young motorcycle apparel business , but one that has already had an impact . The company already sells its contemporary styled range of leather and wax cotton jackets and riding jeans and shirts direct through some 300 dealers in 18 countries worldwide . The team behind it came together with many decades of motorcycle industry experience , and Merlin has quickly established itself as a ‘ go to ’ brand for dealers looking for a convincing range of genuine riding gear with styling trends that speak to emerging consumer group demographics . The company is now seeking to expand its dealer direct partnerships and has attended a number of shows this year as it steps up its worldwide presence and availability . Merlin designs are built to “ impeccable standards ”, and Brand and Product Director James Franklin told IDN “ with all products securing the appropriate level of CE accreditation and selling to the consumer with a 2-year warranty .” In explaining how the company has managed to grow so strongly in a challenging worldwide market , Franklin says that “ we have kept it simple . We have focussed on relevant categories with up-to-date designs made from the best proprietary materials and components . The result has been a programme that dealers can stock with confidence that often sells out - and quickly .”
EXHIBITOR
Yoxall waxed cotton jacket - a versatile , motorcycle-specific crafted jacket made from Halley Stevensons Scottish waxed cotton , exclusive to Merlin in the motorcycle market and finished in Marton Mills British Tartan . This design is built on the success of its predecessor - the Armitage - but with improvements to the fit and cut , lining , accessories and functionality ( such as ventilation front and rear , fold back collar , cuff fasteners and improved internal draw cord system ). The Yoxall is Merlin ’ s mid-length garment , with the Atlow a belted long-length option ; Barton , a shorter option , and Anson , a city styled , lightweight option . Features include Reissa waterproof and breathable membrane , 100g removable thermal full body liner , Italian Safetech CE shoulder and elbow armour , rear armour pocket and mesh drop liner for improved breathability and comfort
The Merlin programme features three collections - the Heritage line ( including Lichfield , Drax , Yoxall ), Leisure Moto and Tech Wear ( including airbag systems ).
THE MERLIN PARTNERSHIP Burntwood , Staffs , UK Tel : + 44 ( 0 ) 1543 270299 info @ merlinbikegear . com www @ merlinbikegear . com
G24 Drax boot – in 2.4 mm cowhide leather with a ' Crazy Horse ' distressed finish and casual , urban style . The boot has successfully passed CE certification , achieving the highest level of performance possible in the CE test , 2 , 2 , 2 , as well as the optional
WP ( waterproofing pass ).
Lichfield leather jacket - a leather summer jacket with a cowhide outer and classic styling cues , a British tartan weave lining , removable thermal gilet , YKK antique zippers and Italian
' Safetech ' CE certified armour pre-fitted to shoulder and elbow
RS-1000 concept
The innovative RS-1000 concept from iXS with its colourful , removable hard shell components , was introduced at the end of 2017 and has already been incorporated into several products . This concept gives riders the opportunity to add a personal touch to their motorcycle fashion by “ setting colour accents in a very individual and distinctive way ”. The newly developed slider parts , consisting of shoulder caps , elbow and knee sliders , are “ easy to replace and available in various colours , meaning it is simple , fast and personal to configure the perfect motorbike suit ”. The RS-1000 slider components are made using innovative , lightweight design and were originally developed for racing and have been tested under the harshest racing conditions . iXS has also been using this concept for products in the touring and adventure sector , which means that there are also now two one-piece suits as well as a jacket and trouser combination made of leather , two textile sports jackets and a full touring suit available in the RS-1000 concept .
HOSTETTLER AG Sursee , SWITZERLAND Tel : + 41 ( 0 ) 41 926 6111 info @ ixs . com www . ixs . com
50 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018