SUNSPEL

England is a breeding ground for clothing brands with a long-established legacy. Among them is Sunspel. The name may not mean anything to you, but the product certainly will. During the '80s, the label indeed benefited from the aura of the almighty textile giant, Levi's. Everybody naturally remembers the famous ad featuring a self-confident Nick Kamen, who strips off in a launderette to wash his 501 jeans, waiting patiently in his boxers for the end of his cycle. The connection? Well, it's precisely that; he's wearing underpants by Sunspel. Founded in 1860 in Nottingham, by Thomas Hill, the design house specialises in producing exceptional essentials for everyday wear. A pioneer in luxury T-shirts, the brand first imported the boxer short to Britain in 1947, following a trip to New York by the founder's grandson, John Hill.
Renowned for their luxurious materials and excellent fit, the label doesn't need a big name to make it shine. From 2011 to 2014, it is a young Jonathan Anderson who stepped in to lead the label's creative direction. In 2016, David Telfer took on the challenge of designing the British label's collections, having graduated from the University of Brighton in Fashion and Business and previously working with COS. Under his leadership, the brand continued to produce its iconic t-shirt designs, cut and sewn by hand at its Long Eaton factory, where it was first established in 1937. Its cashmere comes from Scotland while the jersey cotton is produced in Leicester. The remainder is imported directly from Portugal. The brand is conscious of the environment, utilizing organic materials and limiting its production waste as much as possible.
Finally, besides appearing in the iconic Levi's ad, Sunspel also earned its pop-culture stripes in cinema. The Riviera polo shirt (another iconic piece) was worn by Daniel Craig, playing James Bond in Casino Royale in 2006. The leeway to be stylish, one click away.