A “Made in America” sports apparel brand based in Arizona is exhibiting its sports apparel for the first time at two of the industry's largest trade shows this January. Advanced textiles and fabric printing technologies are allowing Hele to ship snow sports apparel in as little as one-tenth the time it takes offshore manufacturers, helping retailers manage inventory and cash flow.

Denver, CO -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/19/2015 -- Hele, an apparel brand based in Phoenix, AZ, is out to prove that U.S. snow sports apparel doesn't have to be manufactured offshore to be competitive. The company is showcasing its innovative new textile printing technology and "ludicrous" production speeds at two of the industry's largest trade shows—The Winter Sports Market and SIA Snow Show—at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO later this month.

Hele will show its 2015 line of Premium Neckwarmers, WinterTubes™, Flyweight Masks™ and other snow sports accessories at The Winter Sports Market from January 26 through 28 (booth # 219) and the SnowSports Industries America (SIA) Snow Show from January 29 through February 1 (booth # 2075). Show attendees are encouraged to stop by and be part of the daily draw to win either an I-Pad Mini® or $500 of free merchandise for resale.

Hele's "Just-In-Time" printing processes and small minimum orders allow retailers to invest minimal amounts of money in small test batches of the company's protective accessories and apparel. These "Mad Minimums" let the retailer see how well a product or design sells before committing to a large order, explains Hele co-founder, Matt Boyd. "Our fully digital fabric printing processes allow us to produce short runs far faster than our overseas competition," he explains. "A typical sports apparel shipment from Asia might arrive as much as a year after the U.S. retailer has placed the order," Boyd says.

The Winter Sports Market, organized by the Snowsports Merchandising Corporation and Sports Specialists, Ltd., represents the kick-off of the buying/selling season for snow sports apparel retailers.

The Snow Show attracts over 96% of the supplier market share for winter apparel— including skiing, snowboarding, cross-country and snowshoe apparel—according to organizers. Retailers attend the events to help make buying decisions for next season in the apparel niche that represents nearly $616 million in sales in the U.S. annually, according to the SIA.

Because the Arizona-based company controls every aspect of the design and production process in-house, Hele produces stylish protective accessories and apparel like Premium Neckwarmers, Flyweight Masks™ and LavaTubes™ in a fraction of the time it may take a Chinese or Vietnamese manufacturer, according to Boyd. Sometimes the speed takes retailers off-guard: "Holy cow! You sent samples of the logos that you worked up already?!!!! What, are you miracle workers? Are you a factory of magic elves?" asked Wendy P., a buyer from the Chile Pepper Bike Shop in Moab, UT.

"Our production speed is unheard of in the snow sports apparel industry," notes Boyd's business partner, Cynthia Valenzuela. Debbie, with The Ski Shop, Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO. shares "I have had to place many reorders throughout the season because the Hele product sells almost as fast as it comes in the door." She adds that with Hele's low minimum orders, and quick delivery, "I never have to worry about missing a sale."

About Hele Custom Workshop
Hele designs and manufactures stylish protective accessories and apparel for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Sold at resorts throughout the U.S., the firm's Hele brand of Premium Neckwarmers, WinterTubes™, and Flyweight Masks are also available direct to the public at LiveHele.com. The company's innovative digital textile printing processes allow Hele to offer apparel retailers "Mad Minimums" and "Ludicrous" production speed.

About the Snowsports Merchandising Corporation Winter Sports Market
WSM 2015 will be held January 26-28, 2015 at the Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO. WSM is SMC's annual trade show. It's an opportunity for a select group of suppliers to present products and buying group programs for the following season in an efficient, cost-effective format. It represents the kick-off of the buying/selling season.

About The Snow Show organized by the Snowsports Industries America
The SIA Snow Show, January 29 - February 1, 2015 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, will deliver the "largest, most concentrated and authentic trade event in the snow sports industry," according to organizers.

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High-tech manufacturing and “Just-in-Time” inventory management allow Hele to rapidly produce the snow sports industry’s most fashion-forward ski and snowboard accessories and apparel. Now, online ordering at LiveHele.com will allow Hele customers to get that apparel faster than ever before.

Tempe, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/11/2014 -- Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Hele Sportswear produces stylish protective accessories and apparel for snowboarders, skiers, and other outdoor sports enthusiasts using engineered textiles and full-color digital printing technologies. Until now, the company's U.S.-made products were only available from brick-and-mortar retailers in major snow sports destinations like Vail, Park City, Bear Mountain, and resorts in Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, and Wyoming. The launch of a new retail website, LiveHele.com, now allows style-conscious extreme athletes to order directly from the company.

LiveHele.com features multiple designs of Hele's vibrantly colorful product line including insulating Premium Neckwarmers, Flyweight face masks, jerseys, and versatile LavaTubes™ that can also be worn as headbands, head caps or as a wristband. "I love, love, love the LavaTube™ with the Hawaii flag...it's super-comfy, I can wear it so many ways and my local friends keep asking where I got it," says Cathy, a customer from Honolulu, Hawaii.

Though the company got its start manufacturing winter sports apparel, LiveHele.com also features summer performance gear, including mountain bike jerseys, summer face masks, multi-function LavaTubes™, half tubes, headbands, t-shirts, tank tops and more.

Retailers can also place custom orders online at LiveHele.com. "This feature is quite popular with our retail clients who either select one of our posted designs and add their logo or create entirely new artwork for their particular markets. Any design you can think up, we can probably manufacture," says Hele's co-founder, Matthew Boyd.

Because Hele manufactures its products in the U.S. using "Just-in-Time" inventory management systems, retailers are able to streamline some of their inventory management to have the most responsive, lean and efficient operation. "We make all of our gear right here in the US which means you can carry less stock and respond rapidly to seasonal, fashion or other changes in your market. LiveHele.com visitors can select from the most stylish and on-trend sports apparel on the market today," says Hele co-founder Cynthia Valenzuela. "Want a design you don't see? By leaving feedback for us on Facebook or Instagram, we can work with you to get it added."

"Hele designed our manufacturing processes to allow us to make Premium Neckwarmers, Flyweight Masks™ and LavaTubes™ immediately--in as little as 48 hours, so our retail partners can offer the latest designs, and their customers can be the most comfortable and stylish people on the slopes," Valenzuela explains. "Buying cycles have become incredibly long for sports apparel retailers. You pretty much need a crystal ball to work out how the coming sales cycle will pan out and what inventory to carry," says Valenzuela. "As snowboarders ourselves, we've noticed that most snow sports manufacturers are six to twelve months behind the fashion cycle." That's because most ski apparel is made in Asia and can take as long as a year to appear in North American shops. By the time it's unloaded from a container ship, it's outdated.

"We make all our own products here in Arizona, from start to finish, without any intermediaries," notes Valenzuela. Unlike off-shore apparel manufacturers, Hele's minimum retail order for each product is only 12 pieces. Hele's "Ludicrous Speed" promise includes shipping most regular orders within two business days and full custom orders within only three weeks.

About Hele
Hele Sportswear designs and manufactures stylish protective apparel for extreme athletes. Sold at resorts throughout the U.S., the firm's Hele brand of gaiters, jerseys, face masks, Premium Neckwarmers and LavaTubes™ are also available direct to the public at LiveHele.com. The company's innovative digital textile printing processes and commitment to "plushology" allow Hele to offer skiers, snowboarders and other outdoor athletes the industry's most comfortable, durable and stylish protective apparel.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm