Sunspel at the forefront of mens clothing online

Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us) will always be a keen student of the past - of its own past, as well as how Americans and other fans of the finest designer menswear across the world have long chosen and shopped for such items. After all, Thomas Hill founded the company in the first place to realize his vision of underwear being made and sold in a way unheard of in 1860, and with every subsequent development in clothing design and manufacture, Sunspel has been there to integrate it into its traditional approach.

One might consider the Internet, for example. Sunspel is used to its designer mens clothing inhabiting some of the most exclusive stores and boutiques, and this is one tradition that certainly remains, with stockists being present across the world. American visitors to the firm's native England can find a series of dedicated Sunspel stores in London, including in Marylebone, Soho and Spitalfields. But now, the brand's products, message and values are being spread in ways that even Thomas Hill could surely never have imagined.

Sunspel always was an internationally-oriented clothing manufacturer, with 'Old Thom' seeing for himself how the revolutions in steam, telecommunications and the media that defined the Victorian age increased the appetite for the discovery of new markets far beyond the British Isles. It was only  a matter of time before the fledgling Sunspel was to embrace the Far East, with garments bearing the name of Thomas Hill soon being exported to China, India and Malaya. Having imported the finest grade of cotton to produce its earliest underwear, Sunspel was now finally presenting it back to the world.

Naturally, markets rise and fall over time, with the Chinese market suffering come the early 20th century, but Sunspel never lost its knack for instinctively realizing what its international customers wanted - and this more than remains the case today. Having been purchased by Nicholas Brooke and Dominic Hazlehurst in 2005, Sunspel was to truly seize on the benefits of ecommerce in the early 21st century, with its current fully-featured site comprising the brand's complete range of luxury mens clothing, including icon products like T-shirts, polo shirts and boxer shorts, as well as knitwear, sleepwear, swimwear, sportswear and more.

However, the modern day website also showcases the highly rated womenswear range for which the brand has gained enviable renown in recent years, as well as sections detailing the venerable company's history and the principles of scrupulous craftsmanship, everyday luxury and aesthetic timelessness that it espouses. Finally, there are contact details and a journal highlighting aspects of Sunspel's operations, products, collaborations and associations - to say nothing of the online shopping functionality that brings the widest range of people within closer vicinity of the brand's heritage clothing than ever before.

It is an online presence befitting a company - Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us) - that has long had a profound effect on the way the world sees and wears the finest luxury clothing.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel US (http://www.sunspel.com/us) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

The Sunspel association with cashmere wool

The more than a century and a half old British clothing manufacturer Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) has always been renowned for its adventurousness in the development of its own fabrics. That was the case in the earliest days in which it became known for its innovative experimentations with premium Lisle cotton, as well as in the 20th and 21st centuries with the development of several rapidly iconic cotton and pique fabrics. The company is not too proud to seek periodic outside help, however, and the results are always entirely in keeping with the Sunspel philosophy of exacting fabric quality, wearability and craftsmanship.

Visitors to Sunspel's flagship London outlets or its online store are soon wooed by a collection of precision-crafted and supremely soft knitted fashions, with the company certainly bringing its long-held and continually refined merino wool knowhow to bear on the most wearable of roll necks, V-neck and crew neck jumpers, cardigans and polo jumpers. What buyers will also find, however, is a series of sophisticated crew neck jumpers in cashmere, able to be specified in various tasteful colours.

For those who could possibly be unaware, cashmere wool does - of course - originate from the cashmere goat and other types of goat, with the word cashmere deriving from an outdated spelling of Kashmir, the achingly beautiful northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. The cashmere wool fibre is obtained from the goat's neck region during the spring moulting season. The resultant fine underdown is then de-haired - the term for the mechanical process of the separation of the coarse hairs from the fine hair - prior to the dying and conversion of the cashmere into textile yarn, fabrics and garments.

But this process is not overseen by Sunspel. Instead, the heritage clothing purveyor is indebted to a cashmere specialist in Scotland, albeit one with a similar long track record of quality, with a period of operation dating back to the 1870s. Of rather greater importance, however, is the manner in which the final cashmere knitwear for men backs up the Nottingham firm's long-held principles of clothing design and manufacture. Those on the lookout for a luxurious wardrobe staple will be delighted by Sunspel's classic cashmere crew neck jumper in charcoal melange or cobalt, thanks to its sleek, tailored fit and the elusive combination of light weight and body-hugging warmth that it provides.

These design and development touches, combined with the use of only the finest cashmere wool,  makes the cashmere crew neck jumper of Sunspel one that wearers will reach for, time and time again - season after season. This is simple but striking designer menswear, only further backed up by the existence in the present range of a refined navy jumper featuring a perfect red circle, reminiscent of that on the Japanese flag. Clearly, when buyers wish to take advantage of the undoubted strength, softness and light weight of cashmere to the greatest degree, while also making that little extra style impact, they only need to look to Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com).

Editor’s Note: Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

How Sunspel pays tribute to its Nottingham origins

In the year 2013, Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) heritage clothing remains a prominent fixture of the world’s finest stores and boutiques. It continues to expand its product offering, too, having introduced a womenswear range, collaborated with talented young designers on new launches and opened new stores of its own. But it’s easy to forget that the modern company would never have come to be without a little bit of Nottinghamshire inspiration and perspiration.

After all, it was Nottingham where the company that would become known as Sunspel was founded in 1860, by Thomas A Hill. The man who would begin an entire Hill dynasty had already accumulated significant expertise in British clothing as the chief Nottingham partner in I&R Morley, the then British market leader in quality knitwear, hosiery and underwear. With his passion for textile innovation, Thomas was already an active member of National Association for the Promotion of Technical and Commercial Education, and had been a major figure behind the decision of I&R Morley to pledge an annual subscription to fund a local technical school.

With Nottingham in the mid-19^th century heaving with industrial activity, it made sense for Hill to base his new company there, and he soon opened a factory in Newdigate. There, he had a 500-strong team working wonders with the premium Lisle cotton in the creation of the smooth, strong and high quality clothing that would earn the firm its reputation. As the decades passed, items including singlets, undershirts and tunics would be increasingly exported across the world. By the early 20^th century, the factory had been relocated to Long Eaton elsewhere in Nottingham, where it remains today, also serving as Sunspel’s head office.

There, as was the case back then, Sunspel continues to make and design new designer menswear and womenswear, making the most of long-standing and hard-won design and fabric engineering expertise. It was on the traditional lace making machines of Long Eaton, after all, that the company’s Quality 14 unique Cellular Fabric was developed in the 1930s. Local lace industry expertise also informed the development of the Quality 75 warp knit cotton fabric that was invented by Peter Hill, the grandson of the founder who wanted a lighter replacement for the relatively heavy weight pique cottons popular in 1950s ‘sports’ polo shirts. This was the fabric used in the Riviera polo shirts worn by Daniel Craig in several recent James Bond films.

Nottingham has long been at the centre of innovations like these, and the city’s instrumental role in the history of Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) has been referenced in some of its latest quality mens clothing. Crew neck T-shirts in the Spring Summer ’13 collection, for example, include printed graphics such as a hand-drawn reinterpretation of a 1960s letterhead used by a travel agent right here in Long Eaton, as well as a dog head in tribute to Bill, a much-loved canine resident of the factory in the 1930s – all showing that Sunspel could hardly forget its Nottingham past or present.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

A closer look at Sunspel's 20th century journey

The 20th century was certainly one of drastic change for Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us), much as it was in wider public life. It was a century that saw dramatic transformations in the lives of people across the world, encompassing politics, economics, culture, science, technology and medicine. Feminism demanded equal rights between men and women, while there was also a transition in common means of transportation from the horse to sophisticated automobiles and airplanes. And of course, luxury clothing also changed, almost beyond recognition.  

Sunspel was at the centre of such changes in quality clothing and associated attitudes. Few companies played such an instrumental role in the development and refinement of all manner of icon products like the boxer, T-shirt and polo shirt, made all the more impressive by the company's humble origins in mid-19th century Nottingham. Indeed, by the end of that century, the firm then known as Thomas Hill Ltd had already made a major impact in its creation of comfortable and durable underwear from the world's finest grade of cotton. It had even begun making some of the world's earliest T-shirts, ensuring that they were continually softer, lighter and more comfortable.

It was arguably the 20th century, however, as ownership of the company passed from 'Old Thom' to a succession of sons and grandsons, that saw the fledging Sunspel truly hit its stride. This was the century, after all, in which the Sunspel white T-shirt reached its ultimate point of iconic simplicity, with more recent designs having only subtly altered since the 1950s. John Hill, meanwhile, not only introduced the boxer short to Britain from America in 1947, but also took a lead in perfecting the modern design of boxer short. Double-turned and feldlocked seams eliminated rough or sharp edges, while the remaining excessive bagginess left over from the 1930s was also eradicated.

The 1950s also saw Sunspel begin to make classic polo shirts, as with the boxer short, again introducing this relaxed wardrobe staple to the British public. But the company also added its own touches to the basic polo shirt design for the American market, with a particular emphasis on simplicity and comfort. The result was a polo shirt effectively distilled to its core elements - short sleeves, a soft collar and three buttons - and shorn of the fussy extras favored by some other luxury clothing manufacturers of the period.

As the 20th century wore on, Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us) developed its reputation for the highest standard of British craftsmanship. It made the most of emerging overseas markets in the years before World War II, and before too long, was even issuing undergarments to the RAF. Later in the century, its heritage clothing became a common sight in the world's finest boutiques and stores and many talented designers began to join in with collaborative projects, establishing foundations for the current, flourishing Sunspel of the early 21st century.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel US (http://www.sunspel.com/us) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Sunspel: making an impact in London

Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) may be a proud child of Nottingham, but it has never been content for its reach to be restricted to the industrial (and subsequently post-industrial) north of England. That much was evident in the earliest days of the company in the 1860s, when founder Thomas Hill began to import the world’s finest grade of cotton with the aim of producing durable and comfortable mens underwear for the whole of Britain – if not the world.

For decade after decade, Sunspel quality clothing has taken pride of place in the world’s most prestigious boutiques, and the situation is certainly no different in London, one of the undoubted international fashion capitals. One might initially imagine that the luxury basics of Sunspel, with their timeless and classy aesthetic, might be overwhelmed by the competition in such a thriving metropolis. Far from it: Londoners have long appreciated the company’s focus on the most wearable quality garments, including sought-after icon products like T-shirts and polo shirts as well as underwear.

Recent years have seen a particular spotlight shone on the English capital, with the 2012 Olympic Games showcasing all of the aspects of the city of which it can be proud. Even amid continuing economic worries, London has taken on a new vigour as athletes have pounded the Olympic Stadium’s iconic track. But some things never change, and one of those is the commitment of Sunspel to the finest range of designer menswear and womenswear, encompassing not only the above but also the likes of knitwear, sweats, trousers and sleepwear. In every instance, Sunspel’s heritage clothing is impeccably engineered. 

The modern Sunspel works with an assortment of top designers working and living in the capital, leading to events such as the recent celebration of fifty years of James Bond’s quintessential style at the Barbican, where the firm’s recreation of Sean Connery’s iconic pale blue shorts took pride of place. However, the Nottingham firm’s most obvious presence in London is surely in the form of its own stores. These include a Soho store that is a mere five minute’s walk from Oxford Street and Piccadilly, on Old Compton Street. It is a fascinating building in its own right, being the former home of the infamous Janus Bookstore that sold bespoke erotica.

The Soho premises is next door to a vintage liquor store and the original Patisserie Valerie, and features many elements of the original building, including a beautiful wooden floor of reclaimed Rhodesian teak. There are even elements from the Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) Nottingham factory, with one of the surfaces being based on the factory cutting table. The store also stocks the complete range of Sunspel British clothing. It is complemented by a new shop on Chilton Street in Marylebone. Finally, at the time of typing, another store in Shoreditch is temporarily closed for refurbishment. It does, however, have an entirely befitting alternative East London home in the meantime, in the lively surroundings of the Old Truman Brewery in Spitalfields.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

What's in a name?

Anyone with a basic familiarity with the history of the celebrated Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) name will know that, rather than referring to the entire company that has been operating since 1860, the term was once simply used for its number one underwear brand. Indeed, the original company was known at first by the name of its founder, Thomas Hill. The firm's present name, though, is somehow befitting, given its dramatic impact over the years on the way in which underwear is made and sold across the planet.

The Hill name remained a familiar one throughout the company's initial century or so of operation, given the passage of control through a succession of descendants. But the original Thomas Hill was a man who had become the chief Nottingham partner in I&R Morley - the then-market leader in Britain for quality clothing ranging from knitwear to underwear and hosiery - by his thirties. Passionate about textile innovation and sensing the need for a new challenge, he boldly set up his own company so that he could pursue his dream of bringing quality over quantity to an ever-greater audience.  

The fledgling company didn't take long to establish a formidable reputation for the creation of exceptional British clothing from supremely soft and lightweight fabrics. Hill himself built a reputation as an underwear pioneer, with his experiments centred on making his firm's clothing as comfortable as possible to wear close to the body. These are principles that still stand Sunspel in good stead today, and which were perpetuated across the world, well into the new century, by successive Hills.

At some point, though, the company underwent its first name change, becoming Sea Island Textiles Ltd - a reference to the Gossypium Barbadense plant that originates from South America and has been grown in the West Indies since the 15th century. In 1786, it began to be planted on the sea islands of South Carolina, and the spectacular quality that was achieved soon made it a mainstay of the British aristocracy. It was used for Queen Victoria's handkerchiefs, for example. Sunspel has its own strong history with Sea Island cotton, having used it for its earliest garments in Quality 14 Cellular Fabric in the 1930s.

By 1937, with the business moving from Nottingham to Long Eaton, it was decided that the company would also be given a new name, adopting that of its most successful underwear brand made from some of the most exclusive Sea Island cotton. That name was Sunspel, and the term remains to this day synonymous with timelessly stylish, unfussy and highly wearable heritage clothing, encompassing not only underwear but also T-shirts, polo shirts, knitwear, trousers, sweats, sleepwear and more.

Sea Island Cotton, meanwhile, remains one of Sunspel's (http://www.sunspel.com) most sought-after brands of quality mens clothing, demonstrating the company's successful incorporation of its past expertise into a product range that remains absolutely relevant to life in 2013.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Sunspel’s relationship to the wider world

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 19^th century turned into the 20^th. 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 clothing brand’s considerable standards.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Women are classically feminine in Sunspel’s dresses and skirts

One look at the current range of heritage clothing for women on offer at Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) may lead to shock on the discovery that it was actually only introduced in the period after the takeover of the company by Nicholas Brooke and Dominic Hazlehurst in 2005. However, that introduction was in many ways simply a reintroduction, given the firm’s first development of women’s underwear many generations ago – and in any case, popular womenswear items like dresses and skirts benefit from many of the lessons learned from the male clothing side.

What that means is that buyers of the women’s quality clothing of Sunspel can expect the same impeccable fabric engineering, high level of attention to detail and timeless style that have long been fixtures of such men’s clothing as polo shirts, T-shirts and boxer shorts. Many of the aforementioned clothing types have been influenced significantly across the world by Sunspel’s continual refinement of them over many decades, and the Nottingham firm, still with a factory in Long Eaton, has soon set to work with transforming the world of womenswear.

Sunspel’s present selection of women’s dresses and skirts is all about the ultimate in classic feminine chic. These both effortless and easy-going garments are the ideal elegant wardrobe staples. They include a classic cut polo dress that is available in the shades of Black, Light Navy and Moss and is crafted from 100% fine merino wool. The close, but not overly tight fit, flattering silhouette and super soft knit and refined detailing all contribute to an easily sophisticated piece of everyday wear, in keeping with the long-held Sunspel commitment to the most comfortable luxury basics.

Also available is a ribbed sleeveless dress that has been cut from a cotton and Lycra blend fabric. Much like the polo dress, this piece of luxury clothing has been tailored to fit close to the body while also ensuring a flattering silhouette, except that the overall look is more athletic. Soft but durable and with a textured rib, this is another extremely well-crafted, English-made item of womenswear showcasing Sunspel’s customary high attention to detail. It works across the seasons of the year as a foundation for any look, not least as it can be specified in both black and white.

Items like these are only part of the grander womenswear scheme at Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com), with T-shirts, polo shirts, tops and vests, knitwear, sweats and trousers among the other products available. Various women’s accessories, like cashmere scarves and gloves, can also be purchased to complete the look, showing that Sunspel’s reach continues to extend far beyond the finest luxury mens clothing.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

The changes wrought on Sunspel by the 20th century

The 20^th century: a time of drastic social, political and cultural change, an epoch that witnessed the dissolution of empires, two World Wars, the rise and fall of Communism, the formation of the United Nations and not a little alteration to the situations of women and minorities across the world. It was this tumultuous landscape into which the British clothing company now known as Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) entered on a wave of Victorian pioneering fervour, with such influences firmly leaving their mark on the modern-day brand.

By 1900, the firm that had been founded as Thomas Hill Ltd in Nottingham had already been trading for some four decades, in which time its Newdigate factory began to make luxury hosiery made from exceptionally soft and lightweight fabrics. The firm had been established to make comfortable and durable underwear with cotton of the finest grade, imported from around the world. The company’s spirit reflected an emerging appetite for international exploration, with the result being the best quality clothing for wearing close to the skin.

This outward perspective certainly informed the son of ‘Old Thom’, Thomas Arthur Hill, who having significantly progressed the company’s reputation in the development of lisle cotton singlets, tunics and undershirts and women and childrens’ underwear, pinpointed the Far East as a key future market. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before undergarments bearing complicated embroidery and the Thomas Hill name surfaced in China, India and Malaya. A name change to Sea Island Textiles Ltd eventually followed, along with a move from the old site to Long Eaton – where the company, now bearing the Sunspel name that it adopted at the end of the thirties, maintains a presence today.

The name Sunspel was taken from the company’s best-selling brand of underwear, and it was this side of its offering that was to attract particular notoriety as the new century progressed – but not before the struggle. The firm had already played its part in drastically changing perceptions of women in the workplace as they replaced the conscripted men during the First World War. Fast-forward to the times of austerity post-World War II and Sunspel was once again focussing on supplying the home market with the finest quality fabrics and products.

Gradually, Sunspel began to attract attention for a distinct combination of style and innovation, marked by the development of cellulock fabric and the appearance of its quality mens clothing in the world’s finest stores and boutiques. At this time, the company was also supplying various issue undergarments to the RAF, and it was its mens underwear that was powering the company’s popularity again when Nick Kamen made his famous appearance in Sunspel boxer shorts in the Levi’s Launderette advertisement of 1985. This soon drew a host of other iconic brands and designers to Sunspel.

The 20^th century may go on record as one of the most momentous and revolutionary in human history – and Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) was there from start to finish with luxurious heritage clothing that continually redefined the breed.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Sunspel’s trousers, and their military and workwear inspiration

If many people around at the world at all associate the Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us) brand with trousers, it may not be the company’s own trousers that immediately come to mind, but instead those that Nick Kamen peeled off in the memorable Levi’s Launderette advert of 1985, revealing a princely pair of Sunspel boxer shorts. Of course, such a state of affairs has everything to do with what was an immensely iconic advertising campaign, and little to do with the fact that Sunspel has a highly creditable trousers range of its own amongst the rest of its heritage clothing.

As a matter of fact, up until the airing of that advert, Sunspel was largely known for its supply of various issue undergarments to the RAF, and was still developing its reputation as a provider of luxury clothing for the world’s most prestigious boutiques. However, the brand was definitely attracting acclaim for its well-made mens underwear, and when the Levi’s Launderette advert was screened before European audiences, its celebration of the American Dream – mixed with not a small amount of canny nostalgia – certainly struck a chord.

It is in tribute to that commercial’s role in powering Sunspel’s British clothing to new heights of popularity that the company’s online store stocks Levi’s revival of its 1947 501 jean. There is no more quintessential 5-pocket jean, and the 14oz selvedge denims have been reissued in the 1947 style, albeit redesigned so that materials unavailable during the war years could be incorporated. The denim itself is woven by the Cone Mills of Northern Carolina, while the jeans have also been pre-washed to avoid washing-related shrinkage. Being highly wearable, these jeans are the perfect match to a range of Sunspel items, such as the Short Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt.

Meanwhile, the Sunspel collection of mens clothing online also includes timeless-looking cotton drill chinos in stone and navy. Crafted from soft and durable 100% cotton twill, these trousers also bear no shortage of military and workwear inspiration. The classic 5-pocket design of the Chino instantly marks it out as Sunspel, while the British company is also committed to the continual refinement of even the smallest aspects of design and fit. This is reflected in the fact that the most recent season’s Chinos are slimmer through the leg than previously, while also sitting slightly lower on the waist.

Also incorporating two side and back pockets, a small coin pocket and a zip fly and button fastening, these Chinos represent yet more of the fastidious attention to detail and unwavering fabric innovation that has won Sunspel’s (http://www.sunspel.com/us) quality mens clothing a legion of admirers since the firm’s establishment with those principles more than a century and a half ago.

Editor’s Note: Sunspel US (http://www.sunspel.com/us) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Sunspel's truly worldwide reach

The Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us) story begins in the English city of Nottingham of the founder, Thomas A Hill, after whom the British clothing company was once named. However, this was in the 1860s, a time of pioneering Victorian entrepreneurial and industrial zeal and in a century when the British Empire was very much at its peak. Sure enough, Hill and his descendants quickly made use of these advantageous conditions in the development of a clothing dynasty on which the sun has never set.

Today, Sunspel enjoys a not insignificant international reach, with its development of a dedicated US website for its quality mens clothing being just one event to demonstrate this. Nor has the firm ever truly lacked a global outlook, as from the very start, it depended on imported cotton of the highest order in its creation of durable and comfortable underwear for the British market. That cotton was soft, lightweight Egyptian cotton, which having been crafted into the finest undergarments, was eventually exported across the planet.

As the first few decades of the existence of Thomas Hill Ltd passed, revolutions in education and travel increasingly left even the most humble Victorian civilian curious about the most far-flung corners of the world. The infant company of 'Old Thom' certainly played to this curiosity, designing clothing that could be comfortably worn close to the body to aid the burgeoning spirit of international exploration. His son, Thomas Arthur Hill, was to be particularly instrumental in making the most of the Far East market that emerged as the 19th century became the 20th.

These new export markets included China, India and Malaya, with complicated embroidery being used to distinguish Sunspel's quality clothing from the increasing competition of other incoming firms. Although such lucrative overseas opportunities were to wane later in the new century, Sunspel was continuing to make its influence felt on the world stage, donating uniform items and underwear to troops and medical services during both World Wars. The company's association with the military only increased at the conclusion of hostilities, as the late 1950s saw it beginning to supply the RAF with issue undergarments.

However, it was by the middle of the 20th century that the company, which finally adopted its present moniker in the late 1930s, was in many ways reaffirming its role as a supplier of the finest heritage clothing for civilians. Sunspel clothing became increasingly synonymous with the most prestigious international fashion stores and boutiques, with the Long Eaton factory in which the firm still operates backing up a long-standing reputation for fabric innovation in its development of cellulock fabric.

By the time Nick Kamen arrived in his crisp pair of white Sunspel boxers in an effortlessly iconic Levi's Launderette advert that aired throughout Europe in the 1980s, the reputation of Sunspel's (http://www.sunspel.com/us) luxury clothing was already assured - in its native Britain and in the eyes of admirers across the world.   

Editor’s Note: Sunspel US (http://www.sunspel.com/us) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.