Issue 014 - Bike Business Magazine Home Page

The Fashion World Recognises Draggin Jeans!
In an unprecedented show of support
for a motorcycle brand, Draggin Jeans
is a finalist for the Fashion Group
International (FGI) Award for Innovative
Excellence.
FGI is a global non-profit organization.
It was established in America in the
1930’s with founding members including
Elizabeth Arden, Eleanor Roosevelt,
Helena Rubenstein and Edith Head.
Today FGI has over 6,000 members
spanning 42 countries and the current
advisory board in New York includes
Evelyn Lauder of Estee’ Lauder, Diane
Von Furstenberg, Burton Tansky of
Neiman Marcus and Arie Kopelan of
Chanel. FGI aims to be the pre-eminent
authority on the business of fashion
and design, and through its members
is tapped into the heart of the fashion
world. On the 13th of November FGI
will be recognising and awarding those
companies that are responsible for major
trends and innovations in the fashion
industry.
Draggin Jeans, and the motorcycling
industry as a whole, have previously
operated below the FGI radar, however
with the launch of fashion lines such as
the Slix, Minx, Biker and Silverbacks,
Draggin Jeans has this year gained the
attention of FGI, and a nomination in the
Innovation Excellence category of the
Awards.
Draggin Jeans easily satisfied
the groups requirements for the
Innovation category demonstrating
“the development and/or application of
leading-edge techniques / technology /
systems in one or more aspects of [its]
business operations”.
Draggin Jeans will be in good
company at the Awards, being judged
alongside recognisable fashion labels
such as Collette Dinnigan, Anthea
Crawford, Dinosaur Designs, and Aussie
Bum.
Draggin Jeans’ General Manager,
Fiona Mackintosh is excited that the
small Australian owned company has
been nominated for such a prestigious
award, however she is not at all
surprised by the FGI’s interest in the
company.
“Draggin Jeans has always prided
itself on taking military materials
n e w s
and giving them a real world fashion
application.
We are very fortunate to have a
very strong working relationship with
numerous labs throughout the world
whom continue to push the boundaries
of fibre technology.”
“This nomination symbolises our
success in delivering a safe and
fashionable solution to those riders who
are seeking casual protective clothing
that will fit comfortably within any fashion
wardrobe.”
Irrespective of the outcome of the FGI
Awards, Fiona is adamant that Draggin
Jeans will continue to develop its
fashion lines and explore the benefits of
adapting scientific advancements to the
motorcycling and fashion world.
“Draggin Jeans is a company that
operates with a completely open mind.
Being able to see the possibilities rather
than the barriers will always be the key
to Draggin Jeans’ success”.
For more information contact Draggin
Jeans 03 9646 0377.
Visit: www.dragginjeans.net
email: marketing@dragginjeans.net
BRIDGESTONE AUSTRALIA LTD. ANNOUNCES RESTRUCTURE
Bridgestone Australia Ltd. (BSAL)
announced on the 23 of October that
a difficult decision has been made to
close its tyre manufacturing facilities
in Adelaide (South Australia) and
Christchurch (New Zealand).
Despite continued efforts to improve
cost competitiveness at both plants,
international competitive forces have
been making tyre manufacturing in
Australia and New Zealand increasingly
difficult to the point where the operations
in both countries are no longer viable.
The decision has been explained to
all employees and unions at both plants.
The closures will take effect at the New
Zealand manufacturing plant by the end
of 2009 and at the Australian facility no
later than 30th April 2010.
Regrettably, the closures will affect
around 275 employees in Christchurch
and 600 in Adelaide. Bridgestone’s
distribution, customer service and retail
networks, which employ more than 1,500
people, will continue unaffected.
Bridgestone’s first priority is its people.
Affected employees will receive their full
entitlements.
In addition, the Company is working
on a range of initiatives to assist
employees. “We would like to express
our thanks to all our employees at our
manufacturing facilities in both countries.
Their contribution over so many
years is to be admired and celebrated,”
said Andrew Moffatt, Senior Executive
Director.
Bridgestone will offer support
services to affected employees, in
conjunction with the relevant government
departments, unions and other agencies,
to assist with future employment
opportunities.
“It is our goal to help as many
of our employees as possible gain
alternative employment, either within the
Bridgestone organisation or in the wider
marketplace,” Mr Moffatt said.
Bridgestone has also announced it
will be working with local government
authorities in Adelaide and Christchurch
to gift some land currently owned by the
Company to recognise the enormous
contributions of the communities.
“We would also like to put on record
our thanks to the various levels of
government in both Australia and New
Zealand,” Mr Moffatt said. “As the last
tyre manufacturer in Australia and New
Zealand, we have all worked hard over
many years to avoid today’s decision.
However the unfortunate reality is that
Bridgestone Australia Ltd. can no longer
commercially justify the continued
operation of these facilities.”
The Adelaide facility has been
operating since 1965 and Christchurch
since 1947. “We are proud of the fact
that we have managed to keep these
two manufacturing facilities open for so
long and have provided employment and
economic benefits to so many people
over such a long period,” Mr Moffatt said.
Despite the announcement to cease new
tyre manufacturing in the region, Australia
and New Zealand are great places to
do business. Bridgestone Australia’s
headquarters remain here in Adelaide,
continuing its sales, distribution, retail
and other business activities throughout
Australia and New Zealand.
BIKEBusiness
b u s i n e s s t o b u s i n e s s
7 Nov - Dec 2009