Feature Interview - Christian Nilsson, Galvin Green

You’ve heard of the motto “we never compromise” when it comes to the Galvin Green brand, but their new motto “we are golf” has allowed the brand to expand on their already impressive clothing brand.

Under their new outlook, Galvin Green products focus in on layering an innovative technology that has been created to keep you dry on a wet day, warm during those colder days and cool on a hot summers day.

All this by using some of Galvin Green’s reliable GoreTex technology, C-Knit technology and the best materials currently on the market. Technology that has caught the eye of 2018 Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, who has asked Galvin Green to provide the outerwear for the European team.

Golfshake’s Owen Davies recently caught up with Galvin Green CEO Christian Nilsson, who spoke about the meaning behind “we are golf” and their new range.

“I think it's important that we remind ourselves where we've come from on the whole,” Nilsson said.

“The reason why we started Galvin Green, it came from the passion of golf. The knowledge about products that were available to actually play in tough conditions.

“The general competition comes from bigger sports brands. They're doing fantastic work and they have loads of things coming into products and marketing and things like that, but we can definitely see that there must be a compromise in some respect.

“We want to highlight that we are golf and nothing else and that's very important for us internally, to remind ourselves and to make sure everybody knows we're golf and nothing else.”

By developing alongside other suppliers, Galvin Green have been able to push the boundaries of golf wear technology and have produced the outstanding Interface products that will be seen in 2018 and can be worn all-year-round. 

“If it’s raining you need to have a good GoreTex series or if it’s very sunny you need some comfortable shirts,” Nilsson added. “We had difficulties in marketing windstoppers as a whole different garment so for us it was important to change that but retain the fabric.

“We’re still using the fabric but to create our own brand name for a category of products that could help you play in any conditions. Not only the wind, it could be a little cold or warm, it could be windy, it could be drizzling rain, things like that.

“Now we can expand that range and that’s going to be key thing for us. Again, we're using the best fabric and the GoreStopper fabric is in there but it’s more marketable. You get more usage of the garment.”

Galvin Green have also taken the bold step away from its famous colour blocking designs, by releasing some brand new patterns and collar combinations. Nilsson explained to Golfshake the reasoning behind this:

“It's so important that we continue to develop new things and we shouldn't develop just for the sake of it. It has to come out as being a nice product and fulfill all the materials and qualities.

“I always think about how the world around us is changing, every day, every year, and we can not be sitting and thinking that we do the same thing, we need to change with the world.

“It comes down to small things but it could be like patterns in a garment. We need to be inspired by new things.”

The new outlook from Galvin Green has also caught the attention of Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, as he has asked the company to provide the outerwear for Team Europe at the 2018 Ryder Cup.

“First of all I think that everybody knows it's the biggest golf event there is,” Nilsson added. “To be invited by the Ryder Cup committee, it was very honourable and we are very proud to be selected.

“We take it extremely serious. We will do the best there is, but also, it is important for the whole company internally, as it’s something that will engage people.

“When we met Thomas for the first time he was really good in the respect that he didn’t tell us what to do. He said, straight to us: ‘you are the experts. So I need to rely on you. I can tell you three or four things that I don't want to have in terms of design features or technical aspect.’

“I think we have all to learn how flexible we can be in terms of different things and what we want to do. It's not just throwing a product at them, it’s actually to produce something that works 100%.”

To learn more about the new range of Interface garments from Galvin Green, visit the website here.