This week has been extra exciting for the clothing team here at Tesco, as we’ve finally received stock of a very highly anticipated sportswear brand on the site called Proskins.
If you haven’t heard of Proskins, they’re a professional sportswear manufacturer, which with specialist knowledge, great innovations and cutting edge design; have safety established themselves as a market leader in the sportswear industry!
The clothing team are going mad for the products we have on the site, especially the ladies with the Proskin Slim products for women. The amazing Proskin Slim leggings have specially designed to optimise your body’s ability to re-sculpt and lose inches – a fantastic at just £50!
Proskins also has an extra special range by Jason Robinson (pictured below), the former international rugby union and rugby lead player! To celebrate our launch, we caught up with Jason to find out why he teamed up with Proskins…
KS: Hi Jason, so how did you first get involved in rugby?
JR: It all started at school, where I was into all kinds of sports. I was at Crossflatts Park Middle school and we were always messing about with a football or a cricket bat. I was drawn to rugby by an enthusiastic sports teacher .Although I was small and slim for my age I loved the physicality of the game. I started to play rugby league for for an amateur club and did that for 4-5 years and got spotted by Wigan Rugby club and I went professional at the age of 17.
KS: How did the involvement with Proskins come about?
JR: Through a friend. As a sportsman I was always being sent products to try and was always looking for something that gave me that bit extra for my sport.The Proskins Active and Recovery product provided this extra benefit. My legs feel much better after exercise due to the benefits of the compression technology. I developed my relationship with the brand and eventually my role changed to working for the company.
KS: What was it like to design your own range?
JR: Very new and strange but ultimately it is a privilege to be able to have that much input. My relationship with the designer at Proskins was crucial as they are specialists in their field but they allowed me to give the range my own look and feel.
KS: What has surprised you through the process?
JR: Everything really. It is amazing how much you take for granted but when you are involved every element takes on new importance. From cloth weights to fabric benefits. It’s odd but in a way when you are a retired sports person you try to find something to replace the adrenaline of the game and doing this has given me a new challenge.It has been great also that we are trying to speed up the design to production process which can take 12-18 months normally and we have tried to reduce this to around 16 weeks.
KS: What has been the greatest sporting moment of your career?
JR: There have been so many special moments having played at the highest level in both rugby codes.Playing for GB, England and the British and Irish Lions have all been fantastic but winning the 2003 World Cup with England in Sydney, Australia has to be the greatest moment!
KS: What is your own personal style?
JR: Quite mixed. Sometimes life dictates what you wear. I was a professional sportsman for 20 years so there was a lot of tracksuits etc but sometimes I needed to dress smart so it is a shirt and tie. I’d say generally I am quite smart. I have had a few fashion disasters when i was a teenager though too. I remember a particularly bad outfit, which I have a picture of somewhere of a turquoise pair of jeans and a puffa jacket in a similar colour. But don’t worry I won’t be repeating that in my new range.
KS: What are your predictions for the Rugby World Cup?
JS: New Zealand are favourites and have been for the last two World Cups but really with a competition like that it is down to any team on the day. Teams like South Africa and Australia have a good chance . England will need a few favours along the way if they are to reach a third consecutive final. England showed real character in 2007 and I hope this can be repeated.It comes down to the team who can handle playing under immense pressure and turn every opportunity into points!
KS: Thanks Jason and good luck with the range.
Jason Robinson for Proskins launches online at tesco.com/clothing in late August.
