Over 160 years of British craftsmanship and pioneering fabric innovation goes into every Sunspel garment. Here is our story.
1860
Formation of the business


Thomas Hill, c.1870.
1890
The business goes global


The Thomas A. Hill Ltd factory in Nottingham, c.1890
1900
Sea Island cotton


Sea Island cotton is one of the world’s finest raw materials, requiring specialist skills to grow and spin.
1908
The world’s first luxury T-shirt


Lighter and cooler than traditional undershirts, Sunspel’s innovative luxury T-shirts proved popular in hot climates.
1914
The invention of Cellular Cotton


1937
The company name is changed to Sunspel


1937
The Sunspel factory moves to Long Eaton


1939-1945
Sunspel during the war


1947
The British Boxer Short


1965
Sunspel’s global reputation is restored


1985
Nick Kamen at the launderette


2006
James Bond wears Sunspel


2010
The first Sunspel retail store


Redchurch Street, Shoreditch
2017
Sunspel celebrates 80 years at Long Eaton


Sunspel factory in 2017
1860
Formation of the business


Thomas Hill, c.1870.
1890
The business goes global


The Thomas A. Hill Ltd factory in Nottingham, c.1890
1900
Sea Island cotton


Sea Island cotton is one of the world’s finest raw materials, requiring specialist skills to grow and spin.
1908
The world’s first luxury T-shirt


Lighter and cooler than traditional undershirts, Sunspel’s innovative luxury T-shirts proved popular in hot climates.
1914
The invention of Cellular Cotton


1937
The company name is changed to Sunspel


1937
The Sunspel factory moves to Long Eaton


1939-1945
Sunspel during the war


1947
The British Boxer Short


1965
Sunspel’s global reputation is restored


1985
Nick Kamen at the launderette


2006
James Bond wears Sunspel


2010
The first Sunspel retail store


Redchurch Street, Shoreditch
2017
Sunspel celebrates 80 years at Long Eaton


Sunspel factory in 2017