Field Notes

A year ago Imperial announced a new focus and commitment to sustainability. Since that announcement, the brand has strived to introduce more environmentally friendly alternatives in all aspects of their business. We are proud to share that we have made major progress towards our goal of moving our best-selling performance fabric used in our X210P lineup to 100% recycled polyester by the end of 2023. In fact, nearly half of our color palette is already starting to be produced in this updated fabric, with more colors being added every month. The same look, feel, performance and fit will now be produced with a more positive environmental impact.” Mike Wrightson, President of Imperial Globally, less than half of used clothing is collected for reuse or recycling when they reach their end-of-life, leading worn (and sometimes unworn) garments to be discarded in landfill sites. This staggering statistic implicates both consumers and brands in the environmental and social consequences of fashion waste. As a brand, Imperial commits to producing more responsibly and consciously for the benefit of our planet.Imperial has also made strides in increased energy conservation in the last year. As of January 1, 2022, approximately 25% of the power used in two of Imperial’s largest domestic decoration and USA made visor facilities is now provided by solar energy. Imperial’s energy conservation platform is to do more with less through execution of a vision that continually reduces all resources. Read more about Imperial's commitment to sustainability here.

Imperial has renewed their partnership with the Chicago District Golf Association with a new 3 year agreement and e-commerce collection of limited edition headwear and apparel on Imperialsports.com. Featured products include Illinois State Amateur and CDGA Amateur Championship products. The Chicago District Golf Association is proud to partner with an iconic headwear brand such as Imperial. Our CDGA members love not only the amazing fit and features Imperial caps give them, but also the trendy and classic styles to choose from. Mike Gilligan, Senior Managing Director, Business Development CDGA member benefits contain a special discount on Imperial ecommerce products, and a portions of the proceeds are donated back to the CDGA Foundation which supports a variety of golf initiatives, including special needs, veteran and youth golf programs. I am very excited to work with the CDGA to offer their members a convenient e-commerce shopping experience, as well as raising funds for the CDGA Foundation. The CDGA is run by great people, who do wonderful things for the game of golf in Illinois. David Shaffer, Senior Vice President of Sales at Imperial About the Chicago District Golf Association The Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) is authorized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as the governing body for amateur golf in our region. The CDGA is a membership organization consisting of nearly 90,000 individual golfers and 400 clubs in Illinois and parts of Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Golfers receive member offers, a Handicap Index® from the USGA® and competitive playing opportunities, while clubs receive USGA rating and measuring services, turfgrass diagnostics and educational seminars. Midwest Golf House and the Bob Berry Sunshine Course are home to the CDGA and its Outreach programs, which annually serve more than 1,000 individuals with special needs and wounded veterans while also bringing playing opportunities to youth golfers. Founded on March 18, 1914, the CDGA is one of the largest and oldest golf associations in the United States.

Imperial is proud of its partnership with Tee it Up for the Troops. Doing our part to honor, remember and support all those who serve(d) in the Armed Forces is something that is very important to us. David Shaffer, Senior Vice President of Sales at Imperial Tee It Up for the Troops is a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting programs that deliver critical services to help veterans from all eras heal and transition from the battlefront to the home front. Tee It Up for the Troops provides support for six critical areas of need for veterans and their families: Golf and Sports Rehabilitation, Suicide Prevention, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries, Employment, Housing/Homelessness, and Family/Caregiver Support. Established in 2005, Tee It Up for the Troops has hosted over 612,600 golf events in more than 40 states and has donated $12.8 million to partnering organizations serving veterans across the country. In addition to sponsoring event headwear, Imperial commits to quarterly donation disbursements to Tee It Up for the Troops with a portion of the proceeds from a branded collection of headwear benefiting the non-profit organization. Tee It Up for the Troops is honored to partner with Imperial, a brand with inspiration for trending and customized golf hats, Imperial consistently ‘steps up to the tee’ and stands by our side as we collaborate in support of America’s veterans and military families. Thanks to Imperial for teaming up with us to provide hats and visors to our many golf event sponsors and supporters across the country! Tim Wegscheid, President and Executive Director of Tee It Up for the Troops

New styles and colorways debuted for Imperial sales representatives this week as the brand continues to build on its growing selection of rope caps, performance styles and trending ‘Micro Pattern’ prints. Innovative new decoration techniques were also announced, such as new domestic Chenille letters that give a classic varsity look to any style, as well as new 3D Chain Stitch now available through the Imperial Empire Program. One of the most noteworthy announcements from Imperial last year was the launch of a new Custom Rope Cap Program inspired by one of the best selling hats in golf – The Wrightson (style 5054). In order to provide more variety to their customers, this week Imperial announced the addition of two new six-panel styles to the program. Customers can mix and match 14 total base fabric colors with over 30 solid and multi-color ropes in small quantities. These new six-panel rope cap styles have also been added to Imperial’s 2022 domestic in-stock offering with availability starting in June: • The Wingman (style 7054) The Wingman has the same performance polyester fabric, woven rope and plastic snap closure as The Wrightson, but with a six panel, structured mid-crown profile. The Wingman will be available in 10 different cap/rope color combinations in June. • The Night Owl (style 7055) The Night Owl has the same crown fabric, woven rope and new six panel, structured mid-crown profile as The Wingman, but as an adjustable mesh back variation. The Night Owl will be available in 6 different cap/rope/mesh color combinations in June. Also, new color options were included in the mid-season announcement. The Oglethorpe (style 4062) a knit performance tonal camo cap now comes in ‘True Navy’, and The Manifold (style 5057) a pigment washed rope cap now comes in ‘Honey’ with a black rope. But perhaps the most anticipated and well-received new color additions were the six new ‘Micro Pattern’ prints announced for The Alter Ego (style X210R) performance cap. ‘Micro Pattern’ prints have been a trending look in golf apparel, which is translating to the headwear category. Imperial continues to lead the industry in micro print headwear options with the addition of new nautical, desert, winter and space-themed patterns, all available to ship starting in June. "We are committed to developing innovative headwear styles and decoration techniques that golf consumers recognize as distinctly Imperial right now, And being able to deliver these new quality products quickly is what is really driving our customers’ business and serving up great margins too. The strength of our brand, product line and service, coupled with all the supply chain headwinds the industry is facing are all giving Imperial a real advantage right now". David Shaffer, Senior Vice President of Sales at Imperial.