Category: Pilote Story

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New Online Store Launched

Pilote Black on Black Collection

It’s been about a year since we launched the Pilote range on the world. At the time, a little online shopping system called Shopify seemed like a good idea – but things change… so we have re-launched the Pilote online shop on a new look website, and we are excited about what is coming…

The first thing that you will notice is that you no longer have to leave TeamPilote.com to visit the store. Everything is done in one place. You will also be able to get reminders about products you have been browsing and better recommendations and you will be able to calculate the shipping live before you check-out for many products.

We have some new suppliers, which means that in the coming months, we will be able to offer products more suited to our core customer base. Specifically, we will be launching technical tshirts and long-sleeved tees – great for sport! There might even be some sneakers on the horizon.

As well as the Sea, Track and Sky vibe, we are also expanding our travel category. COVID-19 has changed the world, so maybe the Digital Nomad lifestyle may change too, but we hope that people will be able to travel soon – even if it is domestically or for stay-cations. We’ve teamed up with some great writers and bloggers to add some travel content into the blog and we will also have some digital guidebooks for sale.

Speaking of a new world, we have some very cool, neck gaiter designs that are exclusive to Pilote. These products are great for sports like Sailing and Mountain Biking, but also work as a non-medical face covering.

You might notice a couple of bugs as we migrate to the new site – some products may be unavailable – but if you get in touch, we might be able to source what you are looking for. Some links might send you to an expired Shopify site. If you notice anything weird, let us know and we will add it to the list of things to fix.

Please send us your feedback. We do value your contributions and will do all we can to take on board your ideas.

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Richmond Collection

Pilote Richmond

There are a few places around the globe named Richmond. In fact, some say that it is the most copied English place name with around 55 towns in the USA, Canada, South Africa and Australia called Richmond.

The Pilote team have lived in or visited a few of these towns.

Richmond, Melbourne, Australia is home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the Tigers – the first AFL footy team supported by Pilote founder, Dave. Famous for an illuminated sign that tells the temperature atop old grain solos, immortalised in one of Paul Kelly’s songs – Leaps and Bounds…

I’m high on the hill, looking over the bridge to the MCG
And way up on high, the clock on the silo says eleven degrees

Paul Kelly – Leaps and Bounds

Richmond Upon Thames, a leafy suburb outside of London in the United Kingdom is where Pilote was created – circa 2008. A blue Dell laptop on the kitchen table on Hill Street, overlooking the Richmond Bridge.

As the name suggests, the Thames river winds its way through Richmond. The view of the river’s bend from the hill is said to be protected by an act of parliament. The sweep of the bend from Twickenham to Kew is alluded to in the Pilote Logo.

Richmond, Virgina, USA is perhaps the most well known place with the name. It only has a footnote in the Pilote story. We are fans of the Road Trip . And we couldn’t drive from Boston to Orlando without popping in to see Richmond on the way.

It was the 5th or 6th of July and black clouds brought rain to the roads. As such we didn’t see much of Richmond. We did have lunch though, in an old tobacco factory. Traditional fare… memorable.

So why add Richmond to our T-Shirts and Hoodies? Because Richmond is part of the origin story. And perhaps it’s the same reason that the creators of the Simpsons set the show in Springfield.