Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) may be known for well-engineered luxury basics that surely couldn’t possibly be any more British, but the company is actually far from insular in its outlook – and indeed, hasn’t been since its 1860 establishment. Indeed, frequent connections and collaborations with the world beyond these shores have played a big role in the continuing popularity of the brand’s British clothing today.
This outward looking emphasis was more than apparent in the atmosphere of pioneering industrial fervour in which Sunspel was established. After all, the Victorians were at the apex of the invention and development of the steam, telecommunications and media that are such integral parts of people’s lives today. Founder Thomas A Hill started the company in the first place, having spotted an opportunity to import the world’s finest grade of cotton for the creation of the most comfortable and durable mens underwear for domestic audiences.
As the years wore on, ‘Old Thom’ helped to revamp the way underwear was made and sold on an international basis. As more and more ordinary Britons were becoming familiar with far-flung places via the emerging new media, so control of the company passed from Hill to his son, Thomas Arthur Hill, who identified the Far East as a key market as the 19th century turned into the 20th. It wasn’t long until the company’s undergarments, distinguished by complicated embroidery, surfaced in countries like China, India and Malaya.
Such a trend foreshadowed the appearance of Sunspel quality clothing in some of the world’s finest boutiques and stores in the later years of the new century. But before that could happen, successive evolutions of the company were to witness the Chinese market’s rise and fall and the not insignificant matter of two World Wars. Sunspel began to develop an association with the military, donating uniform items and underwear to troops and medical services in collaboration with military bodies and the Red Cross. After the War, various issue undergarments began to be supplied by the company to the RAF.
Far from merely luxury clothing for civilians, Sunspel’s wares began to win favour with the world’s explorers and trailblazers, from the polar explorer Ben Saunders to Great Britain’s top rowers and thrill-seeking actor Dominic West. Even Oxford University’s 1963 Expedition to Northern Persia involved Sunspel clothing, with the group’s leader stating in a letter of thanks that he had found the “gift of underwear…particularly welcome”. Various other enquiries came in at this time about the use of the brand’s clothing in other parts of the British Empire.
In recent times, Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) has maintained its strong international reach, including bringing many of the finest items from far afield to its British buyers – as demonstrated by the appearance in its Soho store earlier in 2012 of the exquisite Mingei pottery from the Shussai Kiln in Japan. Meanwhile, new collaborations – like that with Postalco – have helped to introduce Sunspel items to new far corners of the world, even by this heritage clothingbrand’s considerable standards.
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