Wippe, a French brand of women’s golf apparel, has made a remarkable entrance in the international golf business. Positioned in the medium-high segment of the market, this new brand ended as finalist of the Golf Europe awards for the clothing category. Its snazzy jacket with a very light and water-repellent fabric was outdone only by Nike.
Wippe distinguishes itself partly through its smart finish, even on the lining of its garments. The brand has been launched by Sandrine Fantoni, a former international sales manager for Karl Lagerfeld and several other fashion companies. She intends to use her contacts to quickly establish international distribution for Wippe, particularly in the United States and in Asia. Employing just two people, Wippe already has a showroom around the corner from Place Vendôme in Paris and plans to attend several golf fairs, from the PGA Show Orlando in January to Le Salon du Golf in Paris in March.
Wippe, a name that is meant to reproduce the sound of a well-hit ball, is to be launched at the retail level early next year. A men’s range is in the making for the second year. Supported by a French funds management firm, Fantoni is targeting sales of about €500,000 for the launch year and over €5 million for the third year.
