Sunspel Brand Guide

‘1860. The year of Abraham Lincoln’s nomination for US President, the last major bare knuckle boxing fight in England, the publication of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and the year that British clothing company Sunspel was founded.’

Sunspel was founded by Thomas A Hill in 1860 with his ideas soon becoming highly recognised and soon the brand became pioneers of British craftsmenship. Sunspel began to make their underwear from lightweight Egyptian cotton instead of wool which was traditionally used, and as well as this, developed the worlds first t-shirts. The brand showed their generosity when they worked with the Red Cross to donate underwear and pieces of uniform to the troops and medics in the Second World War. At the end of World War Two Sunspel worked from their Long Eaton factory in Nottingham to focus on producing high quality fabrics for the home market due to the economic changes and the rise and fall of the Chinese market.

Sunspel use a range of practical fabrics from raw materials worldwide. Combined with fabric structure these fabrics are completely unique to Sunspel. These include;

• Q82 – Jersey Knit
• Q14 – Cellular Warp Knit
• Q75 – Warp Knit
• Pique
• Loopback
• Wool
• Woven

In the 1950’s Sunspel started to supply the RAF with issue undergarments, leading them to become ever more popular and before they knew it the brand were sitting in shops with Couture and luxury furs. Their positive reputation led them to become recognised by other high quality brands. The brands popularity was taken to a whole new level when Nick Kamen wore Sunspel boxer shorts in the 1985 controversial Levi’s Laundrette advert. With Marvin Gaye’s ‘I heard it through the grapevine’ playing in the background, girls all over the world fell in love. It was a breakthrough for Levi’s, and what was supposedly the most ‘notorious advert ever’ had done Sunspel proud.

Before the boy in the launderette, nobody wore boxers. Back in the Eighties, baggy Y-fronts and skimpy briefs, probably in inflammable man made fibres, were the male underwear order of the day.  – Robert Elms, Style Journalist.

Not only boxer shorts, but the iconic Riviera polo shirt, which is stocked here at Aphrodite is another garment which has been featured famously on screen. Originally designed to wear in the hot Italian Riviera, the polo shirt was crafted by the founders grandson Peter. Award winning costume designer Lindy Hemming asked Sunspel to recreate the Riviera for Daniel Craig to wear in Casino Royale. With this request they took their light Q75 warp knit fabric and created a polo shirt to both complement Craig’s physique and allow him to move freely in action sequences. In both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Daniel Craig takes on the role of Bond in several Sunspel shirts, which has again made the brand both proud and timeless.

“There have been so many different characters in film and theatre that I have dressed in Sunspel vests, t shirts and underwear because they are classic, timeless and beautifully made. This time, dressing Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, I thought that it would be a perfect collaboration of quality and Britishness to ask Sunspel to create all his t-shirts, polo shirts and underwear, which they duly did so excellently.” – Lindy Hemming, Costume designer.

Sunspel were also asked to recreate the famous shorts worn by Sean Connery in the 1965 Bond film, Thunderball. This was along with other classic pieces worn in the film to celebrate fifty years of Bond style exhibited at the Barbican in 2012.

Here at Aphrodite, Sunspel is new this season. We stock a range of the brand, mixing both smart and more casual garments together for the everyday man. From the iconic Riviera to a classic pique shirt. All of which can be dressed up or down depending on occasion, making them an investment buy for your wardrobe. For almost two centuries, Sunspel have always committed to crafting the most practical pieces from the most beautiful fabrics. Their flawless craftsmanship has continued and never faulted since the brand first opened its doors in 1860. They still manufacture the same high quality goods, making sure that they have a fresh and youthful look for current generations. All garments are unique, beautiful quality and boast the proud heritage that Sunspel hold. They have a reputation for providing clothing for the military forces and adventurers all around the globe.

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