The Binda Group, 100-year old Italian leader in the watch, jewel and accessory categories (brands Breil Milano, Breil Tribe, D&G Time, D&G Jewels, Wyler Genève, Trudi Jewels, Nike Timing, Seiko, Lorus, Paris Hilton Watches, Glam Rock watches, Moschino Cheap&Chic watches and jewels, Ducati and Ducati Corse watches) announces its entrance into the world of sailing thanks to the Breil Milano sponsorship of  Team Shosholoza, South-African challenger to the upcoming 33rd edition of the America’s Cup.

"We are really proud to support Team Shosholoza in this wonderful endeavour", says Marcello Binda, CEO of the Binda Group. "This cooperation venture ties up two "teams" that share the same values: passion, commitment, pride and the audacity to face up the big names in unchartered fields". 

Breil Milano & Team Shosholoza: the same thirst for challenges

"Top-level sailing and the America’s Cup challenge are a new world for us", continues Marcello Binda "A passion that we have always cultivated but that only now, thanks to collaboration with Team Shosholoza, can we experience in a competitive way. This is why Team Shosholoza is the perfect partner for this exciting debut: the participation of Team Shosholoza to the past 32nd America’s Cup represented a dream that came true and their positive results proved the potential of a team, that, with courage and commitment, has shown the world to be up to the big names in sailing. Their spirit won the hearts of all sailing fans from all nationalities, including ours.

Entering the world of the America’s Cup with Team Shosholoza makes our dream come true too. We are firmly convinced that nothing is impossible... all we have to do is believe and use the words of the famous South African Shosholoza song … move forward, together. This is the Shosholoza spirit, the spirit we believe in".

"We are proud of this partnership as it links up two apparently distant worlds that are actually very close", states Salvatore Sarno, Team Principal and soul of this South African Team. "I am convinced that we will share the same excitement, striving always to give our very best in order to achieve a common goal". "The heart of Shosholoza is South African", adds Captain Sarno, "but the second main nationality of our Team is Italian and that includes me. The partnership with Breil Milano can only strengthen up over time".

Determination, dynamism, global scope, cutting-edge technology, innovation, passion, strength, courage and originality... these are values shared by both Team Shosholoza and Breil Milano.

Outline of the partnership

By virtue of this agreement Breil Milano will be Team Sponsor, Official Timekeeper and Official Supplier of Team Shosholoza. In this role, the Breil Milano logo will be displayed on the Shosholoza boom, tender, support craft and dry-land facilities used by the team.

Breil Milano will also be providing Team Shosholoza with a range of a new line of watches, jewels and sunglasses. Watches and sunglasses, in particular, will be especially developed to give the best technical performance during regattas.

The Breil Milano for Team Shosholoza collection of watches, jewels and eyewear will be on sale to the public from Spring 2008 and will be inspired by the lively colours and graphics that make this South African team stand out. They will benefit from dedicated merchandising activities and also be backed by an ad hoc advertising campaign and by a series of special events and commercial initiatives.

Binda, an Italian company headquartered in Milan owns the brands Breil Milano, Breil Tribe and Wyler Genève and was established in 1906 in a small town on Lake Maggiore where Innocente Binda opened a watch shop. In 1932 he started to sell and distribute Wyler watches, a brand that marked a fundamental stage in the history of timepieces. 1935 saw the birth of the Breil brand, which, with its relaunch in 1994 thanks to the famous "Toglietemi tutto ma non il mio Breil" (Take everything, but not my Breil) advertising campaign, achieved unprecedented success and became undisputed market leader in Italy. In 1997, Binda became distributor of Seiko and Lorus, two of the world’s best-known watch brands. 1999 brought with it another success for Binda: the world of sport became part of the Group with distribution of Nike Timing watches in Italy. In 2000 the license for production and international distribution of the D&G Dolce & Gabbana Time brand was granted and in 2001 the first line of Breil jewels was launched, the first important step towards the creation of the Breil lifestyle. In 2002 the Breil claim was transformed into the more international "Don’t Touch my Breil". In 2003 the first collection of Breil leather goods was presented. 2005 saw the start-up of production of the D&G Jewels and Trudi Jewels lines, in addition to the opening of a branch in Miami, one in Germany and another in China. The Breil Milano fragrance range was launched in 2006. In 2007 the brand portfolio was enriched by Breil Milano Eyewear, Paris Hilton Watches and Glam Rock watches. Also, Binda has recently announced two new licenses (Moschino Cheap&Chic watches and jewels and Ducati watches).

In 2007 Binda started up Binda UK and commenced airing a new international advertising campaign featuring Academy Award winner and South-African actress Charlize Theron.

The Binda Group currently distributes its products in more than 60 countries worldwide and is present with its own branches and/or production units in the USA, Spain, Portugal, Germany, China, UK, Switzerland and Hong Kong. It employs a total of more than 350 people. Consolidated turnover for 2006 was 253 million euros.

Team Shosholoza – Soul of Sailing

Founded in 2004 and driven with vision, passion and commitment by Captain Salvatore Sarno, Team Shosholoza is the first South African, and the first sailing team from the African Continent, to challenge for the America's Cup. 

Intended as an African dream for all to share, Team Shosholoza, achieved Captain Sarno’s goal of showcasing South Africa as a modern, dynamic, exciting new country after 10 years of democracy with the skills and technological expertise equal to the best in the world. The name of the team reflects the campaign’s deep roots in South African culture originating from a miners work song about hard, physical labour and later used by freedom fighters and more recently by sports supporters. The yacht's distinctive branding portrays a brightly coloured wave pattern inspired by traditional Ndebele, Zulu and Xhosa beadwork and is instantly recognisable as a symbol of Africa. More significantly the crew's infectious African spirit and passion to succeed took the world by surprise. They won respect from their opponents with wins on the race course; they fired the imagination of the world media, attracted an international following of fans and transformed sailing at home. 

As first timers the small, under-funded team of novices were victorious in 7th place overall in the Louis Vuitton Cup, beating China, the Germans, the French and an Italian team in their quest to topple defending champions the Swiss Team Alinghi at the 2007 America's Cup.

Team Shosholoza brought the Soul of Sailing to the 2007 America’s Cup. They will be back with a winning campaign for 33rd America’s Cup when they will also act as South African ambassadors in Europe for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

* Team Shosholoza embraces a strong training and development component through the Izivunguvungu MSC Foundation for Youth.  Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town is the South African Challenge Club and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is the team's famous patron.