Mats Lundqvist, Head designer for Galvin Green

"...every season we have a few styles that never make it beyond prototype stage....in some cases because they are too funky.... or too off the wall"

Meet the man who designs GALVIN GREEN

By Alex Nicolson, Premium Golf

Galvin Green is one of the biggest success stories in golf in the last 10 years.  I caught up with their lead designer, Mats Lundqvist.  His job is to integrate industry leading technology to marry function with fashion.  I believe he was responsible, for creating the trademark look that shot the clothing ranges to great popularity in golf in recent years. Intrigued, I put the following questions to him:

Q. How long have you worked with Galvin Green and what is your background in design?
A. I Joined Galvin Green when I was 19 years old/young, so I’ve been with the company for 25 years/since the Galvin label was founded.

Q. Your position in the industry is dependent on staying one step of the competition. How do you do this and does it cost a lot financially?
A. We have a close contact with our fabric suppliers to be updated on the latest in fabric technology, and we do a lot of fabric test-development together with our fabric suppliers to “build-in” new function/technology into the fabrics. Before a new fabric/garment is released onto the market we spend a lot of time testing the fabric/garment to see that the quality/function is according to our standard. Most often it will take at least 2 years from start-until a new product is launched.

Q. How do you test a new product?
A. We do a lot of field-testing, actual wash/wear tests like a consumer will use the product. We have a group of in-house people (GG-staff) that are keen golfers that we use to test prototypes on-course. Sometimes we also use our contracted Tour-players to test new products. For example, before the launch of our moisture transporting trouser NICK, we had Joakim Haeggman to test a prototype when he played Singapore Open in hot35°/humid conditions, to make sure that the fabric could handle really tough conditions – test was successful.

Q. What are the challenges of working with performance materials like Goretex paclite or Windstopper?
A. It is fantastic to work with high quality/performance fabrics, but it is definitely a challenge! A garment in GORE-TEX fabric has to be constructed in such a way that it is waterproof, and that gives some restrictions in terms of how you can design/construct a garment.

Q. We’ve seen some pretty “colourful” trouser designs come out of the Galvin Green studios in past years.  Is it you who pushes for the really eyebrow-raising ones?
A. We are a group of people at GG that works with the design/product development, and I think all of us really love to do some styles that are “eyebrow-raisers”....

Q. Are there some designs that never made it to production because they were too off the wall?
A. All styles that we decide to present in our catalogue/collection makes it into production.....but every season we have a few styles that never make it beyond prototype stage....in some cases because they are too funky.... or too off the wall

Q. Does it surprise you what weather conditions many golfers are prepared to go out in?
A. Not really, I myself used to be one of those guys who would drive for 2 hours to the nearest course with open greens in mid November, 5° and rain, to play a round with my friends....so I understand that some golfers needs to have good performance clothing.

Q. Would you recommend Goretex Performance Shell or Goretex Paclite?
A. If the primary purpose is to use it “on-course” and you use a carry-bag I would recommend GORE-TEX Paclite, since it is very light in weight and very “packable” (uses little space when packed). If you are looking for a garment to use both on-course and off-course, and you want inner/outer pockets, then you should go for GORE-TEX Performance Shell. In terms of waterproofness/breathability and durability there is no difference between them.

Q. What gives you the most satisfaction about what you do?
A. When I see a 4-ball on course a rainy day, all 4 wearing GALVIN waterproofs......or when I get an e-mail from a consumer saying "I bought a GALVIN shirt last year and I am so happy with the quality, so now I want a new design, where is the closest retailer?"

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