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Each season our buying team goes on the hunt for new and exciting brands who we think you’ll all love. It’s important to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to fashion, and this is why we travel around the country, over to Paris and Florence, to find the best of the bunch. There’s always something new in the world of menswear whether it’s a hot new brand, an innovative fabric or a controversial new trend, we always have something fresh for the season. For SS14 we came upon a brand which has been around for awhile (since 1860…) but has only recently become widely known for something other than their undergarments….
Sunspel was founded by Thomas A Hill a man who was ahead of his time, who came up with the revolutionary idea to make simple everyday clothing from beautiful materials. Throughout the years the brand have prided themselves in developing new fabrics which answer the call for comfort we all ask for when it comes to our wardrobe. They made it as the premium manufacturer of luxury underwear in Britain and have since been stocked in the tailors of the prestigious Saville Row. It’s not just the aristocrats of London who have donned their undies, Sunspel also supplied the RAF with their issued underwear from the beginning of the Cold War through to the early 90s. The armed forces are not the only ones who have called on Sunspel, polar explorer Ben Saunders had thermals and merino base layers made for his arctic adventures, and actor Dominic West wore his thermals on his latest trip exploring the mountains of northern India. One thing’s for sure – they know their textiles, sourcing the finest raw materials from around the world to create these super sought after pieces.
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Underwear may have been how they first made their name, but it’s since their rise to Hollywood fame thats it’s been less about the boxers and more about the clothing. In 2006 Sunspel were called upon by Oscar winning costume designer Lindy Hemming, and commissioned to design a polo shirt to be worn by Daniel Craig in his debut as 007. The Riviera polo shirt was created using their unique fabric Q75, a material designed with the heat of the Italian Riviera in mind, it has appeared in both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. This is one of the key items we’ve brought in for this season, it’s a great piece that Sunspel describes as “..a shirt that is just as suitable for a man of action as it is for a man of style” (sound like you?). The breathable and lightweight material is completely different from standard pique polos, it’s made using combed cotton and woven on lace machines which creates this airy comfortable material. The Riviera should be an essential for every man this S/S, as it brings the simplicity of a polo shirt design and the comfort of premium fabric together in one versatile piece.
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We’ve also brought in a few more everyday classics, with both long sleeved and short sleeved crew neck t-shirts in a range of basic shades. These t-shirts will become your new best friend, made from 100% two fold Egyptian cotton and available in navy, white, blue and black, they’re the most comfortable t-shirt you can wear. It’s a simple piece which looks great with just a pair of jeans but also perfect for layering underneath jumpers and cardigans all year round. Sunspel may lack the aesthetic creativity you find in other menswear brands, but they more than make up for this in the sheer quality of their product. And it’s not just Bond who’s wardrobe is full of Sunspel, a little band you may have heard of called The Rolling Stones have a few t-shirts which they like to wear when playing at places like Glastonbury… So whether you’re wearing it in the heat of the Riviera or just popping to the pub, Sunspel is an easy everyday piece that you’ll just keep wearing.
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