Feridax’s cutting edge

They say that enthusiasm is the key to a successful business, and Feridax’s designer James Kent shows bucketfuls of it as he rapidly darts between garments in the Spada showroom, a whirling dervish of fashion-brand references, to reveal how the stitching has been crafted to create a particular style of seam, or the way that the material has been cut to avoid seams completely.

The results of this passion are clear to see in Spada’s new range, in which each garment has been carefully considered for practicality, performance, style and cost. The aim is to provide high-quality garments at affordable price points, and targets three distinct style “tribes” – City, Urban and Explore – at three price point categories – Raw, Forge and Edge – to suit different rider profiles and provide dealers with a clear proposition for their customers.

The City range concentrates on youth style, taking inspiration from street sportswear and casual fashion. The Nodachi jacket is a prime example, taking cues from snowboarding gear and avant-garde Japanese fashion with its boxy profiles and discreet branding. The jacket is made from a coated nylon hardshell with a high-quality smooth finish, and has a tuck-away hood, designed to lie flat when not in use so as not to catch the wind. The trousers have a seam that twists around the calf, which positions the ankle zip at the rear for easier operation and also allows the trouser leg to be tucked into or slid over boots depending on preference.

Both jacket and pants have lots of waterproof pockets and are CE certified AA, plus they have been tested and approved for waterproofness to EN 343 standards (Spada is possibly the only motorcycle clothing brand that goes to the trouble of doing this) to reassure buyers that weather protection is up to scratch. Rider protection comes courtesy of Spada’s own-brand TetraHex five-piece CE level 2 ventilated armour in the jacket, with a four piece set in the pants. SRPs are £249.99 for the jacket, £209.99 for the trousers.

The Explore range, which targets keener bikers covering longer distances, features the Muramasa suit in the Edge category, and the Crossguard in the slightly cheaper Forge category. Both have traditional biker-style four-pocket designs, with the £299.99 Muramasa jacket having an EN343-rated waterproof nylon outer shell and the £259.99 Crossguard being made of waxed cotton/Cordura with a 10k waterproof membrane. Both are AA-rated and include five pieces of CE level 2 armour. Matching trousers are available, but neither (as with the whole Spada range) comes with a thermal liner. A separate, close-baffled, 3M insulated thermal mid-layer is available for those who need it, but most customers prefer to use a regular jacket or hoodie instead.

Topping the stylish Urban category, which is aimed at lifestyle bikers who dig the counter-culture vibe, is the £349.99 Turbine AAA-rated leather jacket. This has the sort of styling a Spitfire pilot would be familiar with, complete with a faux-sherpa collar trim that can be removed for more self-effacing bikers. It’s made with full-grain cowhide lined with a drill cotton and gaberdine liner to make it easier to slide arms down the sleeves. The front zip has two options for position – either exposing the perforated underlay to provide ventilation, or closing everything down for better insulation. The CE level 2 armour used has a smooth top surface so it doesn’t cause a pattern to show on the leather as it patinates, another example of attention to detail. For those wanting a sportier style leather, the AA-rated Hanzo, which like the Turbine has a dual-position front zip, fulfills the cafe-racer niche for £319.99.

Boots

Sidi has long been synonymous with racing boots, both track and off-road, but it has now got even more serious with its array of trainer-style street boots, adding three new models to the range.

All three share the same tech specs – D3O impact protectors on the ankles, a Fortex sole reinforcement insert, and a Vibram rubber sole. The ARX comes in three versions: the canvas mesh Air; the waterproof suede microfibre WP, and the synthetic leather WP High, which also adds an inch or so of height. The lightweight Urbex WP is a more traditional Apron toe style boot in a choice of burgundy or grey synthetic leather, but it still has all the biking credentials. The sneaker-style Nucleus comes in suede WP, GTX (with a Gore-Tex membrane) or WP High versions in a range of colours. Prices start from £169.99.

For the off-roaders there is the new £549.99 Sidi Crossair X, a supportive but lightweight boot with high-density impact protection covering the entire boot. Inside there is a fibreglass exoskeleton and a three-point anti-hyperflexion system to add to the protection levels.

All this is just the start, with much more promised to be coming from Spada in the future, as the team revives classic designs and develops into new sectors. And Feridax’s other 40-plus brands are constantly innovating and developing new products and ranges, too.

Feridax (1957); 01384 413841; [email protected]