Another Castelli :o

[blueskies]

Yes, the pictured shorts are incredibly silly.

OTOH, I couldn't have ridden 2000+ miles last year without my Castelli shorts. I love the Castelli chamois, and last year, it literally saved my a$$. I tried a lot of different shorts when I was having bad sit bone pain, and it was the Castelli shorts that made it possible for me to do 3-5 hour rides.

I don't buy a whole product line... I buy a pair of shorts or a jersey at a time, so I don't mind if there are some that aren't for me. And really, if you have designers that are pushing the envelope & trying to bring some fashion & variety to bike clothes, there will be some hits & some misses. And yes, I agree, those shorts are a huge comical miss. It's like Britney & Minnie Mouse got together to design some bike clothes.

Still, I LOVE CASTELLI.

My current favorite:

http://www.castelli-us.com/pm-842-4-...ls-jersey.aspx

[Greg Cowan]

Hi All,

I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Greg Cowan and I'm President of Castelli USA.

I almost never read blogs and this is the first time I've posted to one, but I got a mail this morning from a Team Estrogen customer/blogger and she let me know about this one so I thought I'd take the time to to write.

First, I think it's great that CASTELLI generates so much passion among women. Second, we value feedback. As Team Estrogen has a non-advertising requirment to this blog, I won't try to sell you anything. If you have feedback, you can send it directly to me via our website - www.castelli-us.com. I personally read and answer all of our website inquiries. I've answered questions on virtually every topic concerning CASTELLI and that includes what you do and don't like about our products, and we take that product feedback seriously. If you have some styles that you've liked in the past, let us know and we'll take a look at where we think we're hitting and where we're not. Third, the Koori Jersey and Short is NOT designed by a man. It is a concept drawn up by Niki Gudex (who is a top Australian mountain biker, model and fashion design graduate) and designed from that concept by a designer named Maria Theresa in Italy. Maria Theresa has been with CASTELLI for at least a decade. Hers is the same firm that designed the pieces that some of you have referenced that you liked. We also use outside designers in Portland, Oregon (one of whom is a woman and a leading sports apparel designer here - and she did a couple of the designs for Spring 08) and all the designs are reviewed for whether we include them in the line in both Italy and the USA.

Finally, I noticed a number of comments relative to pricing. We work very hard here to make our products price competitive. I could do a whole dissertation on apparel industry costs and pricing but I won't. I will say though that with the design and innovation we put into our fabrics (most of which are imported from Italy) and pads we feel we're providing great value to consumers both men and women at every price point that we have a product offering.

We won't please everyone - but we try to produce a range of product that includes something for everyone. We're not the biggest company out there so as I said above - we place great importance on our consumers and their feedback. And, every season we try to improve. Feel free to send me a note via our website.

Best Regards, Greg

[blueskies]

Hi All,

I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Greg Cowan and I'm President of Castelli USA.

I almost never read blogs and this is the first time I've posted to one, but I got a mail this morning from a Team Estrogen customer/blogger and she let me know about this one so I thought I'd take the time to to write.

Wow. I sent a short note to the contact email on the Castelli web site, but didn't expect to hear back from the President. Gotta respect the attention to customer feedback.

[SouthernBelle]

Hi Greg,

Very nice of you to come and post.

We really don't much care who the designers are, to be honest. We either like it or we don't.

The kit referenced in this thread, and one from last summer that you could probably find with a search, were not favorites, to put it mildly.

The majority of this group doesn't seem to like girly, as opposed to feminine.

I got past the girly stage about 30 years ago.

[SouthernBelle]

I just noticed the 3/4 length sleeves on the Fever jersey. I think that a pretty nifty idea for spring & fall.

[Greg Cowan]

Hi All (and Southern Belle),

I think this Team Estrogen forum (I was corrected, it's not a blog) is somewhat addicting.

Thanks for the comment regarding the Fever jersey.

I appreciate the comment regarding girly versus feminine. Certainly, the Koori jersey and short are on the young side. But, in our defense, we also have some very attractive styles (while that's in the eye of the beholder) that are feminine without regard to age. Two examples this spring are the Pois jersey and the Onda jersey off the top of my head. And for most, young is a mental state. I'd guess everyone on this site feels themselves mentally youthful. Anyway, this was the best selling women's line we've ever produced.

We're never going to have 100% of consumers (either women or men) like 100% of the line. All product line decisions are jointly made between European headquarters and the USA. Economics dictate we get the most from limited design and development resources so the product offerings overlap quite a bit. And there are definitely different connotations of feminity depending on the culture. Some pieces that are considered outrageous here are big sellers say in Italy and vice versa. Last year, the Curore (the heart cut and sewn piece) sold in a limited way to our USA retailers (male dominated buyers maybe?)- they didn't take a chance on it. Then when it hit the stores it was gone (so some women liked it) and we couldn't get more. We had requests for that top and bottom all summer long. Including from Team Estrogen. In Europe they sold 5x as many just in Italy as the USA did and they also couldn't keep them in stock. Anyway, my main point being, that when you have to distribute the products all over the world there are differing tastes among the consumers that you have to try to satisfy. Arguably CASTELLI may be the best selling brand across all the different countries where it is sold. Regardless of design we strive to deliver the finest fabrics, pads designs, fit and constructions to the market.

Finally, CASTELLI has always produced some very outrageous designs. We're known for it. Some of the older Paola Pezzo line is absolutely unbelievable. Pat Benatar looking tops, snakeskin shorts, etc. Being a little out there on the design and innovation side keeps things interesting. CASTELLI not only introduced lycra to cycling - but the first lycra cycling short wasn't a black short - it was bright blue. It's what makes CASTELLI fun.

Anyway, as I mentioned before - I am happy to take feedback on particular favorite styles that CASTELLI has produced in the past. Maybe a few readers here might want to post a photo of their favorite CASTELLI jersey of yesteryear. I'm guessing there's a pretty good diversity out there.

Best Regards, Greg

[redrhodie]

Hey Greg,

Thanks for posting. I'm a designer (not apparel), and in art school I learned that good art is never going to be liked by everyone, and really good art will be loathed by many, at least at first.

Keep pushing the envelope.

[VeloVT]

Greg, hope you check back in and see this...
I actually love Castelli. That's why I was so sad about this season's lineup, which is not my taste at all (and I know, there are lots of other sensibilities out there besides mine ). But I find Castelli fits me better than just about anything, and the fabrics are great too. And a few very comfortable models of chamois. It's pretty good up and down the line actually, and I think you are priced competitively (though if you wanted to drop the prices I wouldn't argue).

--I'm not crazy about using the Sofflex fabric for shorts (a few of the less expensive 2007 models did). It's fine for jerseys (although I actually like the fabric in the cheaper 2007 jerseys, like the Partenza, better (is it called Prosecco?)-- I think it's lighter and wicks better), but the Sofflex is not compressive enough for shorts. The Lycra29 fabric is much better.

--I have a few pairs of the 2007 Vizio short and, although I have big quads (objectively, it's a problem when I try to buy suiting), the non-elastic grippers are really big -- and this is not a problem I've ever had with any other short (often I have the opposite problem ). Overall it's a very comfortable design though.

--The 08 women's line is fussy! That 's what I don't like about it. It doesn't look like cycling clothing, it looks like technical lifestyle clothing. It doesn't look fast. From the men's line, I'd wear the Vuelta jersey, the Superleggera jersey, the Partenza jersey (I like the men's version a bit better than the women's actually -- though I have the 2007 women's Partenza jersey in three colors), even the Stanley jersey (fun & retro). Most of the others are fine too, I just don't like them quite as much. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I secretly covet the Logo jersey with the giant scorpion (normally I DO NOT LIKE logos on anything). It's graphically strong though, that's my excuse (I was half attracted to the women's tribal jersey last season). Sadly I think a men's small may be too big for me? Haven't tried it but the women's small (2007) fits me perfectly.

--Last year, I really liked the Curl jersey (have in more than one color) and the Carezza jersey. I really liked the Preziosa jersey this winter and the Momento jersey (have both -- ordered the grey Preziosa late in the season and it's gorgeous & beautifully cut, I wanted the red/white but by the time I got around to ordering it was out everywhere) but I thought the Diamante jersey was ugly, fussy. I also have a winter jersey from a few years ago that is very pretty on, I think it's called "Calipso".

--For what it's worth, while I **probably** would not have worn the Cuore kit myself, I didn't hate it . Now, the 2007 outfit with a handprint over the breast and rear... that's another story !

Anyway, I will continue to look forward to new styles from Castelli... as I said, the fabrics and the cut just work really well for me. But I wish this season looked faster and less fussy...

[SouthernBelle]

Hi All (and Southern Belle),

I think this Team Estrogen forum (I was corrected, it's not a blog) is somewhat addicting.

Yes. & I have a blog too.