Why Sunspel swimwear far transcends James Bond

Those with even the most basic familiarity with the luxury clothing of the venerable British brand Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) tend to know of its strong links with another undoubted UK icon: 007 himself, James Bond. Every few years, the world's most famous fictional secret agent flashes across the world's cinema screens, with Daniel Craig being no stranger to Sunspel's impeccably well-engineered polo shirts.

Such a high level of craftsmanship might not be surprising given that the company has been making classic polo shirts since the mid-20th century. But it is far from experience alone that gives Sunspel's highly wearable luxury basics their distinctive combination of traditional craftsmanship and the exacting standards of manufacture of 2013. That much is clear when one looks at a garment that has only very recently joined the Sunspel range: a pair of distinctly Bond-esque swim shorts.

That resemblance is no accident, given the extent to which Sunspel drew upon its longstanding relationship with Academy Award-winning Bond costume designer, Lindy Hemming, in their creation. But the inspiration for the luxury swimwear presently being showcased in the Sunspel online store can be traced back even further than Lindy's National theatre career, to Thunderball in 1965, when one Sean Connery stepped out in what would quickly become one of the most admired Bond sartorial ventures - a striking pair of pale blue swim shorts.

But by the time of Connery's iconic pose, it was clear that swimwear had already come a long way from the decade in which Sunspel had been founded, the 1860s, when swimwear had yet to really exist as a concept. The heavy woollen one-piece undergarments that generally had to be used instead, understandably led to their evolution into more comfortable dedicated swimwear early in the following century. And yet... it still seemed that the exposure of flesh was too great a concern for wider society.

The 1960s and 1970s saw a drastically different attitude, and it was this that provided an invaluable template for Sunspel when it was asked by Hemming to come up with a replica of the unforgettable Connery swim short, for the 50 Years of Bond Style 2012 Barbican exhibition that she curated. But even the resultant exhibited garment was only a loose inspiration for the designer swim shorts that are now being offered by Sunspel in royal navy and classic black.

In creating a designer swim short that pays as much heed to contemporary clothing needs as it does to traditional techniques and aesthetic sensibilities, Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com) made the most of its expertise gathered over generations of making mens underwear. Tested and refined for month after month, the final short combines a superfine mesh lining with a contemporary fast-drying performance fabric, adding up to a supremely comfortable garment that represents the finest in versatile Riviera chic. In the 1960s or now, even Connery himself may have wished he'd worn them.

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: 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.

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.

Why a Sunspel polo shirt is the ultimate versatile wardrobe essential

As quality clothing goes, the polo shirt occupies a curiously flexible terrain, between the ultimate formality of the shirt and the more laid-back T-shirt. Today, it is as familiar as any other item in most people’s wardrobes, and yet when Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us) first began to produce polo shirts back in the 1950s, they were yet to reach their present iconic status.

That status was achieved in no small part due to the launch of the Polo Collection of Ralph Lauren in 1972. However, it was another familiar name in the world of polo shirts, tennis superstar Rene Lacoste, who was responsible for the debut of the modern polo shirt at the US Open – replacing the uncomfortable long-sleeved, buttoned up shirts and long flannel trousers that were previously the his court contemporaries’ garments of choice. Before long, even polo players and golfers were adopting the new lightweight, breathable jerseys in place of their own restrictive and heavy shirts.

However, it was the subsequent jump of polo shirts from the world of sport into the affections of non-sportsmen that largely completed this popular clothing item’s journey...at least, until Sunspel became involved. For the popular British clothing firm made the most of long-established fabric and design expertise, as it had applied to its quality mens underwear, in the creation of well-made polo shirts that placed the emphasis firmly on quality, simplicity and comfort. While other companies were increasingly introducing fussy extras and embellishments, Sunspel was concentrating firmly on the most basic essence of the polo.

Those principles hold just as steady today, meaning that customers can encounter a broad range of classic polo shirts based on a familiar template of short sleeves, a soft collar and just a few buttons. Fans of Sunspel’s highly wearable luxury basics have turned time and time again to cotton polo shirts that are lightweight, breathable and perfectly suited to settings ranging from the Italian Riviera to the average American back yard. Sunspel’s understanding of the versatile job description of the polo shirt has made its own Jersey, Pique and Riviera ranges iconic in their own right.

As if any greater endorsement could possibly be required of a quality polo shirt that is slim fitting, timelessly stylish and available in a broad assortment of colors including the likes of Riviera Blue, Cloud, Evergreen and Cherry Red, even the ultimate iconic Brit – James Bond, as played by Daniel Craig – is featured in several Sunspel polo shirts in his Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace outings.  The approval of 007 is just one more reason to investigate the broader range of current mens polo shirts produced by Sunspel (http://www.sunspel.com/us).

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.