A growing trend to dress up in the colours of your favoured team ahead of Cup Match has led to one Bermuda business bringing in a variety of specially commissioned garments and accessories to meet the demand.

However, at the same time there is a delicate balance to be struck for Bermuda Trader, which owns the Frangipani shops in Hamilton and St George, and the Bermuda Triangle Shop at Dockyard.

Business owner Chris Bryan explained it is all about keeping control of how much Cup Match-themed apparel is available and not going overboard.

“I didn’t want to have too much in stock. In a small community people don’t want to see too many others with the same outfit they are wearing during the next few weeks,” he said.

For that reason he is advising customers to hurry along if they want to purchase something from the Cup Match range, which includes dresses, tops, shirts, sarongs, beach cover-ups, jewellery, hats, bracelets and earrings.

“We’re selling the range in all three stores. My advice is don’t wait until next week because they are selling quickly,” he said.

Mr Bryan worked with a designer and a tailor in South East Asia, with whom Bermuda Trader has a longstanding business relationship, to create the Cup Match apparel line. In previous years the shops have stocked a smaller range, but Mr Bryan said he had noticed a growing demand for clothes and accessories in either the red-and-blue colour combination of Somerset Cricket Club, or the light blue and navy blue of St George’s Cricket Club.

“It seems it has gone from just the diehards to lots more people wearing their team colours,” he said.

“It started very small with items for kids, such as hats and bracelets. Bermudians are embracing their team colours more. It’s almost as though this is now what is expected when you go to the game.”

Mr Bryan is a Bermudian and started working for Bermuda Trader 15 years ago. He bought the business six years ago and has maintained the strong links with garment designers and suppliers in Asia, who for the past 25 years have produced exclusive clothing for the Bermuda Trader label.

“I spend eight months of the year in Bermuda and the other four in South East Asia, where I speak the local language. It is invigorating to meet the people there and get involved with the community and socialise with our suppliers.”

He said the clothing range is made with high quality rayon, cotton and mixed fabrics which hold the vibrant, tropical colours popular with Bermuda customers.

The Bermuda Triangle Shop opened in 2005, while the long-established Frangipani store on Water Street, St George, was bought by Bermuda Trader in 2009. The Frangipani outlet in Washington Mall opened its doors in 2012.

Since becoming the owner of the business, Mr Bryan said he has enjoyed the experience and is appreciative of the loyal following of customers Frangipani has build up over the years.

He is certain this year’s expanded Cup Match-themed apparel range will be popular after customers showed a high level of interest in May when one of the dresses was accidentally put on display two months early.

“There were a lot of people enquiring about it,” he said.