International Pairs has signed up the services of Tony Q’aja, the renowned clothing designer, to produce a range of specially-commissioned items for the 2008 World Final to be held in St Andrews later this year. 

Tony Q’aja Couture , based in London and Milan, is well known in the sporting marketplace having not only produced outfits for several world class golfers including Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn, Graham McDowell and Sam Torrance, but can also lay claim to supplying some of the top football stars in the world such as Manchester United trio Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Louis Saha.

Tony will be incorporating a specially-designed tartan from Strathmore Tartan into the clothing at the Home of Golf in September which will reflect the unique nature of the International Pairs brand.

He said: “These items will not be all tartan based. The whole concept will rely on a subtle reflection of the long-standing relationship that International Pairs has with Scotland whilst being contemporary and usable all year round.”

Ross Honey, founder of International Pairs, reinforces this ideology. He said: “We wanted something that was not overtly Scottish but still represented the nation.

"We are very excited with what Tony is designing for us and the range will be ready for the world finals in September. Tony’s pedigree is second to none and we are delighted that he has agreed to help us in this venture, which is another stepping stone in the long-term build of the International Pairs brand.”

Q’aja started in the golf market in 2002 when Darren Clarke commissioned him to supply some on-course clothing. Perhaps his most infamous outfit was dubbed “Smarty Pants” at the 2005 Masters when the European Ryder Cup star wore black trousers with different colour spots and matching colours on the epaulets of his polo shirt.

The International Pairs World Final is this year being held on the Duke's, St Andrews, from September 21-23, with competitors from more than 30 countries expect to compete for the right to become 2008 world champions.

International Pairs is sponsored by VisitScotland, the country’s tourist authority, and also by Sky Television, the English Golf Union, IAGTO and the UK’s newest golf consumer magazine 'Chip and Spin'.

For more information about Q’aja, log onto www.qaja.co.uk