Bandit joins Niko:

New Embark collection unveiled

He is brash, boisterous and a bit of a barkaholic, but one year old ex street dog Bandit has inspired a new collection of fun-wear for the Embark label and taken a short cut to fame.

The latest protégé pooch to join the household of Embark founder Otara finds himself in the company of top dog Niko of ‘Niko goes to Hollywood’ fame to promote the cool and rustic ‘Urban Cowboy’ toned new range of Embark clothing first revealed on the catwalks of the HSBC Colombo Fashion Week and at his own show at the ODEL mansion on February 12. But, unlike his famous namesake street dog of yore from the classic 70s television series ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ this Bandit is attitude on four legs, giving the collection a slightly edgy and rebellious look and feel that is right at the cutting edge of fashion.

Targeted largely at teens, young adults and sassy kids who like to look trendy and support a cause, the new Embark ‘Niko and the Bandit’ collection comprises of simple-cut, bold designs in lightweight fabrics that convey simplicity and a rough authenticity, and sport value additions like contrast piping, badges, textured prints and zippers.

Comprising of more than 60 items, including T shirts, skinnies, racer-back tops, gents’ polo t shirts in regular cut and slim-fit, trendy checked shirts, gym wear, lounge wear, hot shorts and denims with a variety of washes, the new collection caters to all shapes and sizes, from XXS to XXL, giving fans of the brand wide choice.

While Embark’s popular mascot Niko took the cause-inspired fashion label through an evolutionary process with collections such as ‘Love Niko,’ ‘Niko goes to Hollywood’ and a limited edition called ‘Pashionable People,’ the Bandit collection bursts on to the shelves at ODEL’s 13 stores in Sri Lanka with all the youthful energy and ebullience characteristic of Niko’s new sidekick.

Recurring slogans on the new clothing such as ‘stud muffin,’ ‘troublemaker’, ‘I bark my way to the top,’ ‘Unleashed’ and ‘Obedience school dropout’ articulate the general reaction to Bandit from those he comes into contact with, and hints to the personality of the wearer.

Embark Product Development Manager Thilina Dassanayaka said, “With this new collection, Embark is once again inviting people to show they care for homeless dogs by wearing the brand and helping fund many community activities under the Embark program.”