Category: Product News

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“Wear a Suit” – Duffel Bag for Sailors & Digital Nomads

Bag for Sailing Club Ball

Words that strike fear into any sailor, digital nomad or free-spirit that likes to travel light. But sometimes you still need to look sharp. So we have the bag for you. The ultimate suit carrier for people who are Team Pilote.

The Yacht Club Black Tie Award Dinner or Ball.

sailor wearing a suit
Alex Thomson ‘surfs’ the keel of Hugo Boss in a well pressed suit.*

Every so often, Alex Thomson arranges a photographic stunt for his main sailing sponsor – Hugo Boss. But how do mere mortals look as polished and uncreased as the Open 60 star?

You’ve just spent a week in the salt air, trimming, helming, racing or just cruising from bay mooring to marina. Now it’s time for the prize giving. A posh affair – jackets and maybe even ties required. Too many different occasions – sailing, beach bars, yacht club parties… but only one bag.

We’ve got you covered. The Pilote team have found a good looking, functional, duffel bag come backpack that keeps your suit or jacket or dress shirt ready for the big, end of regatta bash.

Disclaimer – Neither Alex Thomson or Hugo Boss endorse the products featured on this page.

The Business Meeting where you have to look ‘Professional’

Not everywhere is as casual as California. Whether you are in Dubai, Melbourne, Montreal or London – there are still some meetings that you need to wear suit. Even if you pair it with a simple Black T-shirt, a sharp suit is literally a cut above.

So, what does this practical, carry-on size suit bag do for you?

  • Pack your suit, jacket, blazer or business shirts flat.
  • Pack your Pilote essential T-Shirts.
  • There’s even a special compartment for your dress shoes!
  • Carry as a duffel bag or a backpack.
  • Choose from smooth, classy grey or confident black.
  • Don’t forget a Beanie or Cap, depending on the weather forecast.
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Outliers, Disruptors & Edge Cases – a T-Shirt Collection

Outlier-disruptor-edge case tShirt

New to the Pilote range… a collection of tees for people who are not normal.

  • Outlier – a person or thing differing from all other members of a particular group or set.
  • Disruptor – a person or thing that prevents a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected
  • Edge Case – a “problem” or situation that occurs only at an extreme (maximum or minimum) operating parameter.

Collection Musings

Misfits, in the archaic sense of the word. People that differ from other members of a particular group. Our kind of people. Perhaps in a different time they were rebels!

Nobody wants to be so predictable that an AI can work out what you want next. Nobody wants to be part of a system that is streamlined to maximise shareholder value at the expense of personal requirements.

Wikipedia defines an Edge Case ‘a problem’. Something that doesn’t neatly fit within the parameters of normal is, of course, an irritation or an issue. We are so focused on expedient efficiency – and look where that got us when the supply chains collapsed during the COVID-19 crisis of 202.

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Folding ‘Snap Grip’ Sunglasses. Perfect for Sport.

Snap around your wrist sunglasses

This product is no longer available from teampilote.com! Get in touch and let’s see if we can find you an alternative.

Practical polarised sunglasses that can wrap around your wrist.

You know the story. You don’t have time to put your sunglasses carefully in the case and place them somewhere before they go flying. Imagine if you could just take off your sunnies and snap them around a nearby handle, or even your wrist until you need them again.

Sorted. Team Pilote have been searching the latest products trending in the Northern Hemisphere Summer and we came across these KDEAM 2019 UV 400 polarised sunglasses.

To be honest. We are having a debate in the office (actually we don’t have an office, everything is done via various chat and messaging apps) about whether these practical sunglasses are fashionable or cool…. but in the end it doesn’t matter. We have decided to sell these glasses because of function, not form.

You can now Chat to Us on Facebook

If you want to slip on your Ray-Bans or Oakleys or prescription eyewear once you’ve showered at the end of the day… then happy days. But you need one or two pairs of these clever sunglasses.

We could list out all the sports that we think these folding sunglasses would be good for – sailing, stand up paddleboarding (SUP), Kayaking – even mountain-biking. Whether or not you wear them while sipping your Flat-white on the yacht club deck – that’s up to you..

I go through sunglasses like razor blades, I forget them, I lose them, I break them. I have special sailing sunglasses with a built in strap, I have posh sunglasses for brunching, I have extra pairs in my sailing bag. I have all kinds of gizmos and gadgets and holders to stop them falling off.

The problem with the straps is that when you bend over, the glasses get in the way and crush and break and scratch. So this is a great solution – snap them onto a nearby tube, and grab them again when needed.

David Fuller – aka DMFREEDOM, Founder of Pilote

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P I L O T E Nautical Flag T-Shirt

p i l o t e flag tshirt

This tee is for all those vexillology fans, or those who just love a classic nautical theme.

Of course all the yacht racing fans will instantly know the significance of each flag – because you always read the sailing instructions and know which flag means – ‘wear your life jacket’ or ‘no more racing today.’

In fact, we had to look up a few of the letters that make up Pilote. According to our research. three of the flags on this t-shirt are used in yacht racing, the following meanings apply…

P – Normal preparatory signal – no starting penalties are in effect. A boat over the line at the start can return through the line or round an end but must keep clear of boats not returning.

I – The Round-an-End Rule 30.1 will be in effect. A boat over the line during the minute before the start must sail to the pre-start side of the line around either end before starting.

L – When displayed afloat means: Come within hail or follow this boat. When displayed ashore means: A notice to competitors has been posted.

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The Problem with Common Sense… Inspired a Tee

common sense tee

It’s common sense. But sometimes, when you sit in meetings or shake your head in the middle of a particularly frustrating user experience, or feel like replying to a Tweet by someone who has amassed 12 followers in 10 years you sometimes wonder…

The problem with common sense is that it is not very common.

Paraphrasing a quote attributed by the internet to Voltaire.

We’ve been thinking about putting this quote on a t-shirt for a while. It really is designed for those of your digital nomads who need to make a point on a Skype call or marketing people with a bit of grey hair who know better.

You probably know someone who needs this tee. So it would make a great gift for that geeky person who ends up providing tech support for friends and family. That problem solver who seems to think that everything is obvious and tends to talk down to the idiots in the room.

Its a t-shirt design for the person who knows everything. The person with low tolerance for influencers who have never read a book – you know who you are.