Sat across from me in the fabulously stylish Dolphinwear & Deckers showroom are David Ireland and Patrick Gilliot, owners of the still fairly recently merged yacht uniform design houses. Whilst DWD is still in its relative infancy, the experience behind the two men is palpable, as is their banter. When asked about their history they say that there was always a friendly rivalry between them when they were Deckers and Dolphinwear respectively. With both companies bidding against each other for tenders that came onto the market, it was always let the best man win, with the winner buying the loser’s drinks. They chuckle at the memory. It’s clear to see that there is a natural synergy between the two and they say that when they finally sat down and looked at the market place they realised that they would simply be better together. Not only did it give them a stronger buying power, but they were able to combine their resources, teams, stock and bid for the larger and larger yachts that are coming out of the boatyards.

It certainly wasn’t a fast process however, taking two years to get everything approved and then a further year to get them to where they wanted to be. In fact, as I was sat there they were excited to tell me that all of their IT systems are now completely in sync meaning that whether you go into the showroom in Palma, Barcelona or Antibes, accurate information will be at the fingertips of those helping clients, thus ensuring a smooth and hassle free service. As well as the showrooms they attempt to be present in as many yachting areas as possible, regardless of the location,  and they also make a point of going onboard, always thinking ahead about quality service and client satisfaction.

What is truly impressive is the subterranean operation quietly situated below the showroom comprising of accounts, customisations, embroidery and an enormous stock room. As David shows me around he tells me that in order to provide the best products, in the right time and under optimal conditions, they have developed a policy of always having a large quantity of important products available in stock, as well as nurturing strong, close relationships with the leading brands they distribute. In fact DWD stock over 500 products across their two warehouses in France and Spain. Incredibly they have more than 50,000 units on hand, at any one moment, at a boat’s immediate disposal. They work with their suppliers internal databases in order to check stock in real-time, meaning they can advise on availabilities and give an honest response to a client’s needs according their time frame.

This brings me nicely onto the subject of lead times and unsurprisingly, time is indeed of the essence. For this very reason they take every project on a case by case basis, determining timeframes, ensuring that they work within them,and together managing all orders to ensure that items are delivered on time.

Below are the approximate time frame parameters boats can expect to work within dependent on their needs:

24 HOURS – Orders based on: Items in stock. In house embroidery.

3 DAYS – Orders based on: Items in stock. Express shipment from suppliers. In house embroidery.

Express 2 TO 3 WEEKS – Wide selection of researched products and fabrics: Presentation and discussions of options. Numerous embroidery and printing options. Standard order and delay.

1 TO 6 MONTHS – Tailor made and customisation: Value added customisation according to yacht colours and design. Design modifications to existing products. Lead-time for customised and altered product orders.

4 TO 6+ MONTHS Fully bespoke clothing options: Unique design and style. Large fabric choice and dedicated production. Special colour development. Full production project and control process. Assistance and project/budget management.

The longer the lead time the more chance to let imaginations run wild allowing their graphic designers to conceive silkscreen prints to match. With advanced technology it is possible to select from a vast array of styles and finishes, ranging from matt to shiny, and everything in-between. Their state of the art software has enabled Dolphin Wear & Deckers designers to personally create sophisticated embroidery programs with all embroidery being done in house, thereby ensuring an inbuilt quality control and a highly personalised service

Their thought process is simple: Every yacht is truly unique. So they want to work together to create uniforms that reflects that. Whether a Captain or Chief Stew has their own creative flair, or they’re in charge of executing an owner’s ideas, DWD are on hand to make all designs become reality. Their in-house experts offer three complete solutions, to help create the wow factor! Based on the respective knowledge from Deckers’ high end exclusive dress collection, and Dolphin Wear’s complete made to measure process and facilities, DWD drives every design project, producing the most exclusive range, inspired by any yacht’s distinctive essence. From customisation which can be a slight modification to an existing product such as adding a stripe, piping, tip or pocket detail, to made to measure that could be a completely new design of a dress, polo, shirt or Bermuda short. They use specific fabric in the colour to match a yacht’s aesthetic criteria, and warranty the exclusivity and distinction of a full uniform collection. There is also the added value of knowing those products will continue to be produced year on year.

Patrick and David are clearly very proud of where the business has come to and where it is going. They have a fantastic front of house staff, whose key focus is on customer service, from the initial briefing right through to delivery to the boat and aftercare. And the quality that they are able to achieve, along with the creativity, capacity and timeframe is really impressive. Asked what the next plans are and David says with a smile that they now plan to do what they do best, which is exactly what they are doing right now. So if you want your superyacht crew to look super chic, DWD is the place to be.

PALMA DE MALLORCA – Calle Annibal, 25 +34 971 28 20 56 palma@dwd.group

ANTIBES – 12 boulevard d’Aguillon, Antibes  +33 493 34 03 08 antibes@dwd.group Deckers,

BARCELONA – Carrer de l’Escar, 3, Barcelona +34 932 21 94 60 barcelona@dwd.group