Every year when I visit the PGA Show, I am often most impressed by the products that small, independent companies are creating. I try to keep my eye on all of the up and coming apparel brands because I know many of you who read the site are looking for new options outside of big brands that get most of the attention.

In this article, I'll be introducing many of you to the athletic brand called Redvanly. Since 2013 they've been focusing on creating superior fabrics and unique designs serving the golf world and beyond. I got a chance to wear a couple of their polos and their different take on golf shorts. Overall, I was very impressed and think they should be on your golf-fashion radar. You can also find Redvanly on my list of the best golf shirts.

We Can Do This Better

Redvanly's beginnings are similar to many other startups in the golf world (and beyond). They felt they could do something better in the marketplace than what was currently being offered. Co-founders Andrew Redvanly and David Pagana were both post-college athletes who were still active outside of work with sports like tennis and golf. Their initial goal was to create a better golf polo to market to their own demographic. Eventually, they wanted to branch into other sports and activities.

Back in 2013, they decided their best chance to compete with the more prominent companies was to invest heavily in fabrics. They were tired of cheaper feel from mass-produced brands and wanted to find out if they could do better. David Pagana, the co-founder of Redvanly, told me that it took a ton of research to learn how to source materials, create a logo, and launch the business. The whole process was bootstrapped from day one without outside help from major investors. As I've found with plenty of other upstart golf companies, there were plenty of setbacks and learning moments along the way - but almost six years later, their company is starting to gain steam.

The first fabric they created was a poly/spandex blend that is currently still featured in some of their shirts. It took several years of cold calling and networking to grow a network of wholesale accounts to get the business to a point where it could sustain itself. Now that they have a base of accounts, they are focusing on creating new designs and growing the brand online through direct sales through their website.

Standing Out

I got a chance to wear a couple of Redvanly polos on the course and try out their "pull on" golf shorts. The thing that impressed me the most is the quality of their fabrics, which you can read about more here. Additionally, their designs are unlike many of the other golf brands you'll see out there.

My style is a bit more conservative, so I'm not willing to take many chances. Some of Redvanly's line isn't for me, but they've got plenty of looks that suit the crowd that looks for the basics.

The Pierrepont Polo was a natural choice as it's a mostly solid color, but with a couple of stripes on the collar. This shirt features their PUREpoly, which is their first blend that took almost two years to develop. It's easily one of my favorite materials I've tried - extremely lightweight, stretchy, and it holds up nicely on those humid summer days.

I'd put it right up there with Rhoback, which was also one of my favorite golf performance shirts. These are the kind of polos I prefer to wear if I know I'm going to be sweating on the course.

I also got a chance to try out the Hamilton Polo. At first, I was wondering if I could pull off the stripes on the sleeves, but after some initial encouragement from my wife, it's definitely one of my favorite shirts in my closet now. The Hamilton Polo is made from a blend of polyester and fiber called TENCEL, which is sourced from raw wood. The shirt has plenty of moisture-wicking properties, softness, and stretch. It's not as lightweight as the Pierrepont, but it is also a pleasure to swing freely in warmer conditions. The Hamilton is more of a fitted style, which I liked because I often find regular golf shirts are a bit too bulky if you want an athletic look.

Redvanly's newest release, and perhaps most unique offering, are their golf shorts. They claim to be the first ever pull on golf short, and I'm not sure I've ever seen another company try this concept. While it sounds weird, they are fantastic.

One thing that annoys me about clothing sizing are inconsistencies in waist sizing. I've tried enough shorts on at this point to know that all waist sizes are not created equal, even within the same brand. Personally, I don't like the feeling of shorts that are too tight around my waist when I play. I want a little bit of breathing room and comfort. You would never know that the Hanover Golf Shorts have an elastic waist by the looks of them. I chose to wear them with a belt even though I didn't need one.

They are very lightweight and stretchy, especially around the waist. You almost feel like you're not wearing anything. Now I know why my wife loved wearing elastic jeans so much when she was pregnant! They're easily one of my favorite golf shorts I've ever tried. I'm not surprised that they have been selling out of them consistently since they came out this spring.

Wrapping It Up

Overall, I loved what I saw from Redvanly. While not all of their designs are for me, they have plenty of styles to accommodate everyone. I'll give them an A+ on their fabrics - in my opinion, that's what really sets them apart from what I've seen in the golf market. They also have plenty of other choices for tennis and other activewear. I also should note that their offerings fall into the premium category, so expect to pay a little extra, but I've found you get what you pay for in terms of shirt performance and longevity.

You can learn more about Redvanly and see their current line of clothing on their website here.