CLOTHING designer and manufacturer has set up a new business in order to raise funds for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation.

Martin Hatfield has opened The Sloop Shop in Dockyard, offering a range of items featuring the logo of the the 112-foot, three-mast schooner built with funds raised by the Foundation.

The vessel left its home port of Maine earlier this month and is due to arrive in Bermuda tomorrow. It will provide extracurricular and school programmes for 14- to 20-year-olds through sail training.

Mr. Hatfield has been working with the Foundation for the last 18 months and has created a wide range of goods promoting the ship.

His store, located directly opposite where the training vessel will be berthed, offers everything from polo shirts and towels to bags, hats flags and boxer shorts, all featuring images of the ship. Also on sale will be prints of a recently completed oil painting of the by artist Eldon Trimingham III. Profits from sales at the store will go towards the Foundation's operating costs.

"I was interested in what the Foundation was doing and so kind of approached them," Mr. Hatfield said.

"For the last 25 years I've been enamoured with boat building and maritime history. I then thought about creating a clothing collection to support the ."

As well as designing both the logo and clothing on sale, Mr. Hatfield, who created the Gosling's Black Seal clothing range, also built much of his new store's interior, incorporating a maritime theme.

And stock is already flying off the shelves since the store opened earlier this month.

"We've had very active sales," Mr. Hatfield said. "The whole image and logo seem to have been embraced by both visitors and residents, which is a good thing.

"This is the first time that I've had experience of running a retail operation but I don't think I have been involved in anything as important before. The proceeds will be paying for the operating costs of the and so this is a good money-maker for the Foundation."

Mr. Hatfield plans to expand the range of merchandise at his store and is now working with the Maritime Museum on putting together a collection of maritime products.

Veteran seascape artist Mr. Trimingham also donated his time working on his latest oil painting, . Prints of the painting will be on sale at The Sloop Shop and again, sales proceeds will be donated to the Foundation.

"It's the one way I knew I could donate to the Foundation," Mr. Trimingham said yesterday.

"It's such an important project because it will help young Bermudians today who haven't had the opportunity to sail or be in a situation where they are responsible not only for themselves but for other people. It's like a boarding school on the water."

Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Trimingham will be selling their merchandise at Albouy's Point tomorrow as part of the homecoming celebrations for the .

For further information on The Sloop Store visit www.spiritofbermuda.com. Information on the Bermuda Sloop Foundation can be found at www.bermudasloop.org.