Hipp’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Recognized

Linda Hipp, founder and designer for Lija apparel, has been named to the Profit W100 ranking of Canada’s top women entrepreneurs by Profit: Your Guide to Business Success Magazine.

This marks the fifth consecutive year in which Hipp has made a list that profiles successful female business owners identified by their annual company revenues.

“I feel very fortunate to be leading a business and developing a product that I love”, said Hipp. “Every day I get to be involved in something that I believe in and want to make better. On top of that, to be recognized by Profit, alongside female leaders from across Canada is definitely an honor

So, You Want To Be In the Golf Industry, Huh?

Even in the best of times, it’s tough to break into the golf industry as a new company.

That point has certainly been made clear at the Canadian buying shows over the years, but the place that has really hammered home that message over the years is the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

Back in the late 1990s, I saw a lot of wannabe golf companies creating a lot of buzz on the show floor in Orlando with big booths, lavish receptions and cool marketing campaigns only to disappear in the next year or so.

I often wondered as I walked the show floor over the years how many of the companies that were commanding attention would be back. I made mental notes and would try to remember them the next year in Orlando and there were a lot of casualties.

Denizens of the golf industry are often creatures of habit and loyal to the brands that have worked for them over the years. Add in long-established working relationships, the influence of buying groups and the terms of engagement with off-course retail shops and it isn’t a stretch to say a new company needs grit to survive.

Some have it, some don’t. Read more

Lija Releases Twilight In Italy

Lija sportswear has released its Twilight in Italy collection, highlighted by subtle tones of desert, cocoa and ivory, along with flashes of colour.

Twilight in Italy features the new Frida print and a variety of technical pique polos. The tops, vests, jackets, pullovers, cardigans, skorts, shorts and pants are designed to offer simple, linear designs for a complete, balanced look.

“Our aim is to craft functional, fashionable pieces that can be worn from one activity to the next,” said designer Linda Hipp. “Twilight in Italy caters to the lifestyles of active women, helping them exude their own individuality and style.”

Bearing “The Hipp Factor” designation, Hipp’s personal favourites are highlighted by special hang tags.

Those include the feminine Glossy Victoria Skort, with three-tiered styling. Other key items are the Classic Wilder Cardigan, boasting the “contemporary boyfriend” fit, and the Modo Oxford Polo.

Twilight in Italy is the second of Lija’s fall offerings. Garden of Eden premiered earlier this year and The Sun Also Rises will ship November 1.

For more information, see the website, www.lijastyle.com.

Apparel Is Worn In Lija’s Garden of Eden

Lija has released its Garden of Eden collection with colors of Jungle and Black, supported by tones of Opal and Putty and fabrications including Moulin Plaid and modern interpretations of tweed.

The collection includes a variety of tops and bottoms, including polos, vests, jackets, pullovers, cardigans, skorts, capris, shorts and pants.

“Our aim is to design functional, fashionable pieces that can be worn from one activity to the next,” said Lija president and designer Linda Hipp. “Garden of Eden is designed to help women, exude their own individuality and style on the golf course this summer.”

Hipp’s personal favourites are highlighted by special hang tags and include the Weekender Bag, with a bold Matisse graphic print, the Windchill Empire Vest, with a longer silhouette, vintage feel and windblocking stretch lining and the Tweed Harpo Skort.

For more information, call 1-888-263-1191 or visit the website, www.lijastyle.com.

Lija Opens its Online Showroom

Lija apparel has introduced a new online showroom at www.lijastyle.com.

The new website will feature an interactive collection gallery, where visitors can preview the latest outfits and tips on how to complete a look while shopping. It will also feature additional information about designs, fabrics and fits.

“We constantly strive to create the ultimate brand experience that caters to the uniqueness in every woman,” said Lija president Linda Hipp.

“The new website is truly representative of how we’ve grown over the past decade from a golf apparel pioneer to a diverse fashion-forward clothing line. The new website makes it even easier for our customers to choose pieces best suited to their styles.”

Lija Introduces Three Fall Collections

Vancouver-based Lija has introduced three golf and sportswear collections for fall that are based on art and literature from the 1920s to the 1950s.

“From Belle Epoque to Art Deco, these artistic collections exude international flair and epitomize Lija in a wide range of styles that can be worn from one activity to the next,” said chief designer Linda Hipp.

“This season we’ve also added a bolder picnic plaid in ‘The Sun Also Rises’ to our characteristic color blocking and striped sweater knits.”

Garden is Eden is a collection of jungle and black, supported by soft tones of opal and putty. It is one of only two collections this year offering the Moulin Plaid and Lija’s modern interpretation of tweed.

Twilight in Italy offers Zeal against muted backdrops of desert, cocoa, cloud and ivory in a collection that includes a Frida Print and tech pique polos.

The Sun Also Rises uses spectra and pitch black to create bold and bright pattens. Stone and steel are the subtle supporting colours showcased in the Cubism print and picnic plaid. Lija’s Ozone outerwear is also featured in the collection.

It’s Becoming a Hipp Habit

Linda Hipp, founder and designer of Lija apparel, has been named to the top 100 ranking of Canada’s top women entrepreneurs by Profit Magazine for the fourth consecutive year.

The Profit W100 list profiles the country’s most successful female business owners based on the annual revenue of their companies. Earlier this year, Profit named Lija one of Canada’s top 100 fastest-growing companies overall.

“This was a milestone year for Lija as we launched distinctive Active, Leisure and Tennis lines,” said Hipp. “We continue to grow by offering stylish women fashionable and functional apparel for all aspects of their busy lives.”

For more information, see the website, www.lijastyle.com.

Lija Blends Past With Present for ‘09

Lija has blended the past with the present, using Hollywood’s golden era as inspiration for its High Society, Barefoot in the Park, An American in Paris and Roman Holiday women’s collections for spring, 2009.

“It’s difficult to really take an inspiration and fully integrate it into a golf line,” said company president Linda Hipp, pointing specifically to the High Society and Barefoot in the Park collections.  “You just see some of the detail through the placket of a polo or the button details.

“It just gives you a hint of that era.  We also have some metallic fabrics, which you can see is indicative of the Hollywood golden era,” she added.

High Society will feature sweetheart and notch necklines, ruffles and a hint of metallic in both solids and plaids.  Colours within the collection include sunset (orange) and regatta (blue), with pewter as a muted tone.

“Barefoot in the Park is another gorgeous collection,” said Hipp. “It’s probably the most classic in terms of colour story.  “We’ve got an espresso base with daiquiri, which is a really pretty red, and then, we’ve got margarita, which is a really light green, like a margarita and then, we’ve got a classic plaid in there, so this collection, I think, will do extremely well because of its classic colours,” said Hipp, adding the inspiration changes slightly in the last two collections.

“The last two collections – An American in Paris and Roman Holiday – their inspiration is a little more American Spirit, a little bit more of a ‘50s feel,” she said.  “Again, you can see that through the detailing in the silhouettes.  They’re reminiscent of days gone by,” said Hipp. Read more

Lija Names New Executives

Lija Apparel has formed a new executive management team, including Ayr Barnett as director of operations, Christine Jakovcic as director of brand management and Julia Wallis as director of finance and administration.

“The Lija brand is continuing to enhance its leadership position within and outside the golf market,” said company president Linda Hipp.  “Christine, Julia and Ayr have a tremendous depth of experience that will help our business grow for years to come.”

Reporting to Hipp, the three directors will create and execute company-wide strategies for long-term profitability, with a focus on increasing brand recognition, sales and distinctive product offerings, as well as cost management and business expansion.