Interview with Protected Species

I first came across Protected Species via a Facebook ad. I saw a golf jacket that looked like something I could easily wear as an everyday waterproof, with lots of glowing reviews from both customers and some of the top publications in the UK, so I had to know more. I reached out to Rebecca McElligott, co-founder of Protected Species who happily agreed to an interview with me. Rebecca also very kindly sent me a City Walker, one of the brand’s best-sellers, which I have now worn as my regular coat for the last few weeks. Below is a piece written after interviewing Rebecca recently (using her own words as far as possible) as well as a few photos I took wearing the jacket on the course. I hope you enjoy!

What is the history of Protected Species?

Rebecca: Protected Species has been running for about 8 years and came about through a collaboration between myself and our former co-founder, Anne. Anne had her first child and was walking around the rainy streets of Glasgow when she realised she was desperate for a nice piece of rainwear that would still make her feel herself. Anne reached out to me as the then apparel product director for the Golf company PING. Knowing my experience working alongside the Tour players creating waterproofs which stood the test for the professionals in the game, we started our plan for a clothing brand which would fuse style and performance beautifully. Together we knew there was a gap for a style-led product and an opportunity to transfer some of the technology from golf into a lifestyle arena.

The name Protected Species originated from the gap we saw for technical waterproofs which were conceived and engineered specifically for the female consumer.

How long did it take for the product to come to market?

Rebecca: It took about three years to develop the product properly which included developing the fabric, colours and lots of mock-ups of styles and fits. This also involved finding the right factory with the right ethics. We found a boutique factory which is female owned in China with the owner Carrie being incredibly meticulous about the product to reflect our brand’s vision. Carrie also trains up local friends and family so the factory is a harmonious working space and often one garment is made up from start to finish by one person – highly unusual in today’s world of mass manufacture.

What are the products made of?

Rebecca: The products are made from a recycled polyester with a laminated microporous backing. Additionally, it has a treatment added to the surface of the fabric to ensure water beads away – this dual technology creates a fully waterproof high-performance garment.

I am passionate about making quality, stylish products that stay in your wardrobe for years to come as this is the only true sustainable approach to clothing consumption – creating products which stand the test of time. All our designs in the collection are “iconic” in direction, the products are not fashion items that are in one season and out the next, but instead are wardrobe staples that can be worn throughout the seasons and throughout the years.

Who is Protected Species’ target customer?

Rebecca: There is no specific target customer. Customers come to us who are environmentally and socially aware so are intrigued by the product. Our customer is someone who wears something she actually needs which is why she ends up being such an advocate for the brand because she feels there is a purpose, whether it is for commuting or golfing. All our customers are lovely women who just want something that does the job simply and efficiently. The reaction to the product was phenomenal despite being a small company and an unknown brand with a reasonable price point (due to the technology within the product). I really pride myself in the brand being “age-less” with customers between the ages of 25-85, so a wide breadth of ages who are all attracted to the classic look. The colours are purposefully muted which is the antithesis of what we get offered largely in golf and outdoor clothing – we don’t all want to wear pinks and purples.

What did you do at PING?

Rebecca: I worked at PING for 14 years – originally as a product developer developing ranges for the UK collection and looking at fabrics. I worked my way up the ladder to global product director, leading a small team of around 10 people creating 2 collections a year. There were many trips to Phoenix, Arizona (PING’s headquarters) to oversee the product direction for the brand. I was also often travelling to courses around the world and working with tour players. PING is the official Team Europe clothing supplier for the Solheim Cup so this was a big part of the work.

How did you get into golf?

Rebecca: I had no interest in golf before working at PING, (I didn’t even know who PING was) but golf does grab you and I now love it and play whenever I can. I’m based in Manchester and there are lots of beautiful golf courses locally. I enjoy being outdoors doing something that you can really focus and dedicate your time on.  There’s also the thrill when you get a good shot which is how the name PING came about in the first place.

What makes the product a golf jacket?

Rebecca: The 4-way stretch in the City Walker uses a fabric that was developed specifically for golf as it eliminates any restriction in swing and additionally has no rustle in wear, which is important to avoid distraction whilst in play. Originally golf clothing had a back pocket to put everything in to keep your balls and tees away from the front, but that has changed now and products tend to have pockets that zip up. Golf is not a high exertion sport, but you do sweat, so you need a product that breathes. You can be in the jacket for a long time, so it needs to be comfortable. The movement and cut of the fabric can’t get in the way of your swing and the jacket needs to be lightweight enough to carry around with you. Also, smartness is synonymous with golf, so you want to feel put together when you’re on the course with clothing that does not crumple or crease.

Other than the obvious, what is the difference in women’s golf clothing compared to men’s?

Rebecca: Women’s golf collections are difficult to create in a man’s world. The proportion of female golfers is still very small in the market to commercially products have to be completely on point. There used to be a lot of co-ordinated outfits.  Women want to be seen as serious golfers and the individuality to wear clothes that are different to others.  The fit of the clothing has to be stylish and flattering. When I worked on the Solheim Cup outfits, we had to create bespoke clothing for each person to accommodate their wants especially as it is closely analysed so you must get it right.

What is your best seller?

Rebecca: The City Walker is one of our best-sellers because it’s perfect for playing golf, but it is also a shape that is suitable for so many other activities such as cycling and walking and can definitely be worn casually with jeans, weekend wear. I create products expecting the customer to own it for years (commercially this isn’t very savvy but we feel we add value to the outerwear market in this way and we get very strong recommendations for what we do). The products can hang in your wardrobe for 10-15 years due to their quality and their timeless design direction and we are proud to be the antithesis of fast fashion we see so much of today.

How often do you bring out new products?

Rebecca: We have made a good product, so we don’t need to reinvent our collections seasonally. We do react to our customers request but always ensuring that any pieces we launch perform well can take their wearer through all the activities they do in their day in a product they want to wear whether it’s raining or not.

What is the plan going forwards?

Rebecca: We have made our mark on what we believe is the most difficult product category in clothing, fully taped, fully waterproof outerwear which blends into a woman’s everyday wardrobe. The brand can now move forward with our product categories creating the perfect trouser, base layer and mid-layer to offer a high performing style-led golf collection which can adapt to all weather through the layering system. Creating items which layer and work together can avoid wastage in selecting your attire for the course, and is essentially the best way to adapt to varying temperatures throughout the year.

I loved hearing about Rebecca’s passion for the brand that she has built up over the past few years. Her invaluable experience at PING and knowledge about technical clothing, combined with her own eye for detail and what a customer wants, has really paved the way at creating products that have so many uses across a wide range of activities. The jacket has been my everyday jacket for several weeks now. It is easy to put on over a jumper when you’re just popping out and over all your layers when you are golfing. That versatility is so important to combat “fast fashion” as we shouldn’t need to have products that are only specific to one activity. 

You can find out more about Protected Species and find the whole range of waterproof jackets on their website and find the City Walker from my photos.

Protected Species has also kindly given me a unique discount code for 15% off any full-priced products with the code LADIESGOLFBLOG15

A big thank you to Rebecca for speaking with me and I really look forward to seeing how the brand continues to evolve and grow over the next few years.