In 2008, we collaborated with Kris Van Assche to create a co-branded range of underwear using the Sunspel heritage Q14 fabric in a selection of shapes. Our respective design teams worked together on this project, with UK-based sampling and production delivery, and the project attracted a good deal of press attention.
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Batman
The Dark Knight (2008)
Thursday, 24th July 2008
Christian Bale as Batman and Michael Caine as Alfred in 'The Dark Knight'
The darkest, most compelling version of Batman yet witnessed on screen, with a career-defining performance by Heath Ledger as the genuinely unnerving Joker.
Harrods co-brand
Knightsbridge / Heathrow
Friday, 20th June 2008
We have enjoyed a relationship with Harrods, Knightsbridge, for several decades, and the store sells Sunspel boxer shorts and Sunspel’s heritage Q14 range as well as seasonal specials and thermals.
Complementing this, a co-branded long staple Egyptian superfine cotton range has proved a successful Harrods staple for many years. Recently this relationship was extended to the Harrods at Heathrow Terminal 5.
Charlie Watts
The Rolling Stones European Tour
Wednesday, 20th June 2007
We were approached by William Gilchrist, the London-based stylist and menswear fashion consultant, just before the Stones’ most recent European tour. William was responsible for the band’s world tour wardrobe, and asked us to make some bespoke t-shirts for Charlie Watts for the European leg of the 2007 tour.
Thom Browne
Friday, 5th January 2007
We’ve been supplying bespoke UK design and production to leading American designer Thom Browne. What usually happens is he takes our heritage fabrications and uses them in a range of groundbreaking contemporary designs. They’re unlike anything found elsewhere, and it’s always interesting to see what he does with our fabrics.
James Bond
Casino Royale (2006)
Thursday, 16th November 2006
Daniel Craig triumphantly assumes the Bond mantle in a hard-hitting, pumped up take on the franchise. Craig plays Bond on his first mission as 007, climaxing in Montenegro where he faces a ruthless financier in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale.
Sunspel worked closely with Lindy Hemming, the film’s costume designer, to produce a range of clothes for Daniel Craig and Sebastien Foucan (who plays Mollaka in the early part of the film).
“There have been so many different characters in films and in theatre that I have dressed in Sunspel vests, t-shirts and underwear because they are classic, timeless and beautifully made,’ says Lindy. ‘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. He looks very sexy and happy in their clothing.”
The film’s costume design team came up to the factory in Long Eaton for the styling and development process and worked with our own design and sampling teams on original Sunspel fabrics and shapes, along with fittings and styling for Daniel Craig. All t-shirts and polo shirts were made specially for Daniel and Sebastien from a selection of three unique, distinct fabrications – Egyptian long staple superfine cotton t-shirts, Q75 open weave cotton polo shirts, and heritage string vest fabrications. All were from the Sunspel archives and all were restyled in contemporary designs for a bespoke short production run.
Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond was immediately acclaimed as powerful and compelling, and there’s no doubt he looked effortlessly cool and quintessentially English in his Sunspel t-shirts and polos.
View the official Casino Royale web site.
Paul Smith
made in England underwear
Tuesday, 20th June 2006
Paul Smith is well known for his support for Nottingham-based companies – and for classic English brands. All of which made a collaboration with Sunspel an obvious choice.
We have in fact been working with him for a number of years, providing a capsule range of made in England underwear, and most recently we made a co-branded range available exclusively for the Paul Smith shops worldwide (other than in Japan).
Barneys
New York / Japan
Wednesday, 20th April 2005
We have a long history of supplying the great Barneys New York flagship store with a unique range of black Q14 underwear, in fact it’s been available in store for as long as any of us can remember.
Our Q14 fabric is a unique Supima cotton cellular construction, originally developed on Long Eaton lace machines early in the 20th century, and it remains unique to the company. Q14’s qualities are such that it is light, strong and has fantastic breathability, unsurpassed by any alternative – making this not only supremely comfortable but also a healthy option.
Gosford Park (2001)
Robert Altman
Friday, 18th January 2002
A shooting party at a large English country house is the setting for a highly charged tale of secrets, lies, deceit, betrayal, revenge, bitterness, hatred, money and love – and that’s all before the murder. A wonderful ensemble cast make this a fascinating, nuanced achievement.
The Man Who Cried (2000)
Saturday, 2nd September 2000
Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp
A young girl, separated from her loving father, is forced to go to England, where she takes on the name Suzie, and finds that although she is misunderstood and teased, she has one gift: she can sing. The movie follows Suzie as she moves to Paris and joins a dancing troupe, meets flirt and showgirl Lola, and falls in love with the gypsy Cesar, all against the chaotic backdrop of the outbreak of World War II.