Patra Selections has launched its new Summer 2012 collection, made up of new, flattering silk styles and perennial favourites.

Summer 2012 sees the launch of Patra Selections’ new collection with an abundance of new styles and past favourites. Mrs U. Patra, founder of Patra Selections, says, “We are really excited that the new styles we have introduced are proving so popular with all our customers. It’s so satisfying when I see a design through from start to finish and it’s well received!”

New styles, which are proving very popular with customers are the colourful and flattering Silk ¾ Length Sleeve Top and the lovely feather-light Silk-Cotton Blouse. For daytime elegance, the easy-fitting Paisley Print Silk Dress is a great choice and makes for a perfect ‘wedding party’ outfit, while the Short Sleeve Silk Blouse is a simple, yet stylish addition to any wardrobe. Casual looks are catered for by the classic Short Sleeved Polo, made in breathable silk and cotton.

For Summer, the in-demand and on trend piece are our Pure Silk Trousers, which come in an exclusive Patra print and are made of soft woven silk. An easy piece to pull on, with side pockets for practicality, this is fast becoming a top favourite.

Hugely popular as well is the beautifully tailored Cotton-Linen Dress, a flattering and elegant piece that works well for all sorts of occasions. The Silk-Cotton Pintuck Blouse in its unique and colourful print is a gorgeous piece that will liven up any outfit.

To view the new Summer 2012 collection, please visit www.patra.com.

About Patra

Founded in 1964, Patra is a family-run independent mail order firm which specialises in providing superb quality pieces made of pure natural fibres in exclusive styles at amazingly affordable prices. As experts in silk clothing, fabrics are sourced and hand selected with great care, ensuring that only items of superior quality are offered.

At www.patra.com, you can find a wide range of exclusive silk clothing, blouses and other silk products, designed in-house with the utmost care and attention to detail, and always with style, comfort and manageability in mind.

Patra Selections, the silk mail-order retailer, has become a sponsor of British Superbike (BSB) rider Sam West.

Patra Selections, the silk mail-order retailer, is acting as a sponsor to the British Superbike rider Sam West (#62 Superstock 1000), who will be using their popular silk thermals. The thermals are to be worn underneath his motorbike racing leathers, when he competes in the British Superbike Championships 2011, the UK’s leading road racing superbike championship. The championship started in April and will be running until October 2011.

Sam decided to choose Patra thermals as, “When riding my bike it is crucial that I can concentrate completely and I’m not distracted by my riding gear. Patra silk undergarments slide easily inside my leathers allowing me to move around on the bike, whilst offering comfort under my leathers.”

Sam is not the only sportsman to appreciate the fine quality of silk. It is also a huge benefit in other sports, such as scuba diving. In July 2010, Patra donated some silk thermals to a fundraising event held by the North Dorset Sub Aqua Club. Patra’s thermals were used by members of the club as the fineness of silk meant the thermals were ideal to wear under wet suits, as they were easy to slip on and non-bulky.

Sam also cites the ability of silk to adjust to body temperature as an important reason for his choice of thermals. “The silk clothing keeps me cool on hot days and prevents body heat escaping on colder days.”

Silk is perhaps best known for the soft feel of its fabric, which makes it very popular with those who have sensitive skin or who suffer from skin conditions or allergies. For motorbike racing, this aspect of silk becomes hugely important because, as Sam says, “Unlike manmade materials the silk fabric importantly prevents any friction burns in the unfortunate case of a crash!”

Sam is not the only rider to have chosen to use Patra. Other riders have purchased Patra’s silk balaclavas to wear under their helmets, as well as Patra’s silk glove liners to wear under their leather gloves. Silk glove liners are fine enough for riders to maintain feeling in their fingers, as well as ensuring their hands stay warm at the same time.

For more information about Patra, please visit www.patra.com.

For more information about Sam West, please visit http://www.west62.co.uk/.

About Patra
Founded in 1964, Patra is a family-run independent mail order firm which specialises in providing superb quality pieces made of pure natural fibres in exclusive styles at amazingly affordable prices. As experts in silk clothing, fabrics are sourced and hand selected with great care, ensuring that only items of superior quality are offered.

At www.patra.com, you can find a wide range of exclusive silk clothing, blouses and other silk products, designed in-house with the utmost care and attention to detail, and always with style, comfort and manageability in mind.

Every so often, we receive calls from customers for help on removing particular stains from silk. In these instances, using delicate machine wash, handwash or dry cleaning your silk garments may not be enough and may even make things worse.

We’ve decided to make a list of the different ways you can remove stains from silk.

We hope this helps!

Some reminders

Never use biological powders or those with optical whiteners or bleaching agents

These can change the dye colours on the silk and can even lead to colours in patterns disappearing.

Do not soak silk for too long

Like any natural fabric, silk cannot be soaked for too long as it will rot, especially if it has been soaked in detergent.

Never bleach silk

Always follow the instructions on the detergent!

Stains, Odours & Running Dye

Grease

To remove grease stains, we recommend putting talcum powder on the stain to absorb the oil. You can then brush the talcum powder off and wash as usual.

Other stains

For other stains, we don’t recommend any specific detergents from particular companies.

As long as a detergent is suitable for silk, we recommend pre-treating the stain by rubbing a bit of the detergent onto it, then following the washing instructions set by the detergent for silk.

Any other methods used could make the colour fade or damage the fabric.

Odours

To remove any odours from clothes, we recommend pre-soaking the garment in a solution of warm water and a couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda.

Dye running

If the dye of your garments is running too much in the wash, we recommend pre-soaking the garment in a solution of cold water and salt. This helps to stabilise the dye.

Click here for more information on caring for your Patra clothing.

Patra Selections supplies its popular silk thermal underwear to a major film production.

Patra Selections, the silk mail order company, has supplied its popular silk thermals to a major film production. The company has previously supplied its thermals to a host of other film, television and stage productions.

As filming can take place in a variety of locations, actors and actresses will often need suitable base layers to keep them warm, while not making them uncomfortable, as they wait for their scene. The fineness of silk as well as its soft and breathable qualities, therefore make it an ideal material for base layers, as silk thermals will not be cumbersome to the wearer. Silk is also ideal for those with sensitive skin, meaning skin conditions and allergies are unlikely to flare up.

Film companies are not alone in recognising the benefits of silk thermals. Over the years, Patra Selections has supplied, as well as sponsored, customers who are keen sports fans. These fans have gone on to participate in expeditions around the world, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Andes and the Amazon jungle. Other sports fans have used thermals when taking part in sports as varied as horse riding, scuba diving and golf.

A variety of silk thermals are available at Patra Selections. Customers can choose from traditional long johns to short johns and leggings. Silk mixes with cotton and elastane are also available, for customers who want thicker and more durable base layers.

For more information on Patra, please visit www.patra.com. For specific enquiries, please email ordersilk@patra.com. For confidentiality reasons, Patra Selections cannot comment any further on the film production it has supplied its thermals to.

About Patra
Founded in 1964, Patra is a family-run independent mail order firm which specialises in providing superb quality pieces made of pure natural fibres in exclusive styles at amazingly affordable prices. As experts in silk clothing, fabrics are sourced and hand selected with great care, ensuring that only items of superior quality are offered.

At www.patra.com, you can find a wide range of exclusive silk clothing, blouses and other silk products, designed in-house with the utmost care and attention to detail, and always with style, comfort and manageability in mind.

Patra Selections has recently launched their new Spring 2011 catalogue, a mix of popular silk favourites and transitional pieces in new shapes and fabrics.

For Spring 2011, Patra have updated their collection and introduced more modern and fresh styles. Of the new collection, Rita Patra, Managing Director of the online and mail order silk company says, “We are very excited about our new spring collection, which has some lovely new transitional pieces. We think things like the long cotton cardigan will prove perfect for the winter through to spring. We also have new shapes and fabrics – the crinkled cheesecloth cotton top, and the brushed cotton striped shirt are both new fabric choices – warmer but still not bulky – great for this time of year.”

The new Brushed Cotton Stripe Shirt, available in blue, is already proving to be very popular with customers, due to its casual and comfortable fit. Great for layering, it is perfect for all types of spring weather, and can be easily worn over and underneath other items.

Another new item, the Woodland Print Top, made of crinkled cheesecloth cotton and coming with three quarter length sleeves and pockets, is both pretty yet practical. Easily dressed up with accessories, it is ideal for casual days out but also great for smarter events. These new items are typical examples of what Patra’s new collection offers; practical items in lovely fabrics, suitable for a number of occasions.

However, fans of Patra’s ever-popular silk jersey baselayers need not worry, as the silk retailer intends to keep selling them right through the spring. After all, Managing Director Rita Patra confirms that, “…nothing matches the warmth without bulk that these layers can give. “

With changeable weather still forecast for February, keeping silk baselayers in stock sounds like a wise idea.

To view the new Spring 2011 collection, please visit www.patra.com.

About Patra
Founded in 1964, Patra is a family-run independent mail order firm which specialises in providing superb quality pieces made of pure natural fibres in exclusive styles at amazingly affordable prices. As experts in silk clothing, fabrics are sourced and hand selected with great care, ensuring that only items of superior quality are offered.

At www.patra.com, you can find a wide range of exclusive silk clothing, blouses and other silk products, designed in-house with the utmost care and attention to detail, and always with style, comfort and manageability in mind.

How well do you know your silks? At Patra, we’re often asked by many of you about the qualities of the different silks we use and why some are more suitable for certain activities than others.

We’ve therefore provided a mini guide to help you with your shopping. We hope you find it useful – please tell us if there is anything else you would like to know!

Photography: Kevin Connors

Silk Mixes

On July 24th 2010, the North Dorset Sub Aqua Club, a member of the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC), raised over £300 at their club fundraiser. Patra Selections aided in raising this amount, by donating sets of its popular silk thermal underwear as prizes.

Every year, Patra receives many orders from skiers and hikers who use Patra silk vests and long johns as base layers. They choose silk thermals as they are non-bulky and easy to slip on, but also because they can wick away moisture and regulate body temperature. The additional comfort and softness of the thermals make them popular with customers who have skin conditions such as eczema.

Patra silk thermals are not only useful for skiers and hikers, but also for scuba divers. Different levels of thermal insulation are required for heavy neoprene dry suits at different periods of the year. David Gilby, Events Organiser of the North Dorset Sub Aqua Club, who has been a scuba diver for over a decade, states that, “In the summer, a silk thermal vest and long johns, used as a first layer, can be all that’s needed, although in colder water, a thicker under suit is also required.” The smoothness of silk makes slipping on a damp, clingy neoprene suit much easier and silk has the benefit of being comfortable as well. “Importantly, it doesn’t add any buoyancy penalties,” stresses David Gilby. “A thick quilted under suit may be the equivalent of up to four pounds of extra lead weight, necessary to counteract its buoyancy.”

Rita Patra, Managing Director of Patra Selections says, “We are delighted that the qualities that are specific to silk proved so useful for the divers. We have supplied to the Thames Police divers on occasion as well, which only goes to show how versatile our silk base layers are.”

Patra Selections has acted as a sponsor for many events, expeditions and individuals. These include actors from The Bill, who raised money for The Bobby Moore Cancer Fund on an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro (2002), as well as the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Everest North Ridge Expedition (2003).

For more information on sponsorship, please contact ordersilk@patra.com.

Patra’s collection of silk thermal underwear can be viewed online at www.patra.com.

See our Facebook page for photos of members of the NDSAC wearing Patra silk thermals!

Read below to find out more!

New Colours & Prints

As for our prints, see below for the new leafy print of our popular Reversible Cotton Jacket from last year.

New Items

We haven’t just updated our colours and prints however – we’ve also brought in some new items!

So new for Autumn Winter 2010 is Patra’s Exclusive Silk Shirt, a pretty print Fuji silk shirt in a slightly retro look with a Peter Pan collar and easy yoke styling, which mixes and tone with both the classic and newer pieces of our collection.

There’s also our Hazel Leaf Skirt, which comes in a soft baby cord, and which complements the rest of our collection well.

And how could we miss out the Soft Alpaca-Mix Cardigan? Luxuriously soft, stylish and useful, with Merino wool included in the mix, this looks set to be a superb addition to your wardrobe.

Lastly, deal with changeable weather easily in our casually stylish Cord Jacket in Teal and Slate and our easy-fitting Perfect Cotton Cardi in half sleeves.

These are just a few of our newest items with the rest being available to view on our website.

We hope you enjoy our new collection – do let us know what you think!

With social media being touted as vital for facilitating two-way conversations between brands and their customers, Patra, the silk mail-order retailer, has recently launched a new blog and Facebook page to better connect with its customer base.

“As so many of our customers shop online, we thought Facebook and the blog would be a great way of bonding with them,” says Rita Patra, Managing Director of the silk mail-order retailer. “Although we already send out emails, we felt they didn’t allow us to get to know our customers in the way that Facebook does. The blog will also be a great way of letting us showcase the benefits that Patra products and natural fabrics bring.”

These benefits range from the extra warmth that silk provides, which has been appreciated by customers with Raynaud’s Disease, to the soothing quality of silk, which is particularly beneficial to those who suffer from skin conditions such as eczema. The company’s best-selling products, Patra thermals, are also widely used in a number of sports, from skiing to horse-riding and even scuba diving, as silk is both fine and able to wick away moisture from the skin.

Patra’s blog and its Facebook page are also to provide information on sponsorship opportunities. In the past, Patra has sponsored and donated sets of its popular silk thermals to expeditions to Mount Everest, the Amazon and Mount Kilimanjaro. More recently, Patra has donated thermals to a fundraiser of a member organisation of the British Sub Aqua Club and the company is keen to be involved in other similar opportunities.

For further information on sponsorship by Patra, please contact ordersilk@patra.com.

Join the Patra Facebook page here.