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source_url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspel?utm_source=openai"
title: Sunspel - Wikipedia
mirrored_at: 2026-08-22T13:03:45.544Z
host: en.wikipedia.org
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mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspel__q__utm_source_openai"
---

> **Original source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunspel?utm_source=openai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sunspel

Industry

Fashion

Founded

1860

Founder

[Thomas Arthur Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hill_\(clothing_manufacturer\) "Thomas Hill (clothing manufacturer)")

Headquarters

UK,

Long Eaton, Derbyshire

Products

Clothing

Website

[www.sunspel.com](https://www.sunspel.com/)

**Sunspel** is an English luxury clothing brand, founded in [England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England "England") in 1860. The brand is best known for [boxer shorts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_shorts "Boxer shorts"), [T-shirts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shirt "T-shirt") and [polo shirts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo_shirt "Polo shirt").[\[1\]](#cite_note-Gallagher-1) It is based in [Long Eaton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Eaton "Long Eaton"), near [Nottingham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham "Nottingham"), where it has its own factory.[\[2\]](#cite_note-Website-2)

Sunspel's origins date back to the mid-nineteenth century when the firm began crafting high-quality underwear in Nottingham - then the centre of the British lace and hosiery industry - from cotton, merino wool and silk.[\[3\]](#cite_note-Mellors-3) The firm was previously named Thomas A. Hill Ltd after the owner, [Thomas Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hill_\(clothing_manufacturer\) "Thomas Hill (clothing manufacturer)") who was a well-known industrialist.[\[4\]](#cite_note-Nottingham&Notts-4) Hill moved the firm from its original factory in Back Lane, Nottingham to a much larger building in [Castle Gate, Nottingham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Gate,_Nottingham "Castle Gate, Nottingham").

With Hill's innovative direction, the new factory brought several marked improvements to working conditions including factory lighting, sanitation and fire prevention systems. Hill was among the first to introduce state-of-the-art steam-powered machinery to Nottingham's hosiery industry.[\[4\]](#cite_note-Nottingham&Notts-4)

Under his guidance the company grew significantly and earned a reputation for exceptional quality.[\[3\]](#cite_note-Mellors-3) Towards the end of the century, the brand began using [Sea island cotton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_island_cotton "Sea island cotton"), the world's rarest and finest extra-long staple cotton.[\[1\]](#cite_note-Gallagher-1)

At the beginning of the 20th century, the company began making and selling some of the world's first T-shirts.[\[5\]](#cite_note-Sims-5) Originally undergarments, they were designed to be cool and comfortable in the heat of tropical climates and were made with a high-quality [Sea island cotton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_island_cotton "Sea island cotton") jersey fabric.[\[6\]](#cite_note-6) Upon Hill's death in 1909, he passed on the company to his son, also named Thomas Hill, and the business remained in the Hill family for the rest of the century. The brand continued its dedication to fabric innovation and in 1914, invented a unique cellular cotton fabric which was made on traditional lace machines and used for lightweight underwear, and it is still in the collection today.[\[2\]](#cite_note-Website-2)

In 1935, the company was officially renamed Sunspel. The name was inspired by the quality control stamp of Sea Island cotton (with which the brand had become synonymous), featuring a sunburst through clouds.

The company moved its manufacturing base from Nottingham to nearby [Long Eaton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Eaton "Long Eaton"), [Derbyshire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derbyshire "Derbyshire"), in 1937 and it has remained in the same factory ever since.[\[7\]](#cite_note-7) During the [Second World War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_World_War "Second World War"), Sunspel produced underwear and long johns for the war effort under the [CC41](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CC41 "CC41") utility mark.[\[8\]](#cite_note-Hodgkin-8)

In 1947, John Hill, the great-grandson of founder Thomas Hill introduced the [boxer short](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_short "Boxer short") to the United Kingdom.[\[5\]](#cite_note-Sims-5) He discovered the underwear style on his honeymoon in the United States and modified the design by adding a back panel, flattening the seams and using the highest quality cotton.[\[9\]](#cite_note-Prince-9) The underwear style gained widespread popularity after the 1985 [Nick Kamen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Kamen "Nick Kamen") [Levi’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi%E2%80%99s "Levi’s") advert in which he wore Sunspel boxer shorts.[\[1\]](#cite_note-Gallagher-1)

From the 1950s, the brand was stocked in renowned department stores such as [Liberty of London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_of_London "Liberty of London"), [Harrods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrods "Harrods") and [Selfridges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfridges "Selfridges").[\[2\]](#cite_note-Website-2)

In 2005, Hill's great-grandson, Peter Hill, sold the company to a former barrister, Nicholas Brooke. He sought to modernise the brand, without losing the appeal of its historical heritage.[\[10\]](#cite_note-Telegraph-10)

Shortly afterwards, Sunspel was approached by the award-winning costume designer and stylist [Lindy Hemming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Hemming "Lindy Hemming"), whose brief was to update [James Bond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond "James Bond")'s style as part of a reboot to the franchise. She tailored Sunspel's Riviera Polo Shirt to fit [Daniel Craig](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Craig "Daniel Craig") for [Casino Royale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Royale_\(2006_film\) "Casino Royale (2006 film)").[\[11\]](#cite_note-Broeke-11) Craig wore Sunspel Riviera T-shirts which were also tailored to him. Hemming said of the brand:

> “\[For Casino Royale\], I thought it would be a perfect collaboration of quality and Britishness to ask Sunspel to create all \[Bond's\] T-shirts, polo shirts and underwear, which they duly did, excellently. He looks very sexy and happy in their clothing.”[\[11\]](#cite_note-Broeke-11)

[Jonathan Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Anderson_\(fashion_designer\) "Jonathan Anderson (fashion designer)"), who went on to become creative director for [Loewe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loewe_\(fashion_brand\) "Loewe (fashion brand)") and founded his own eponymous fashion label [JW Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JW_Anderson "JW Anderson"), was the creative director for Sunspel between 2009 and 2014 and introduced the Loopback Sweatshirt to the collection.[\[12\]](#cite_note-12) More recently, Sunspel has collaborated with several British artists and designers such as [Paul Weller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Weller "Paul Weller"),[\[13\]](#cite_note-13) [David Shrigley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Shrigley "David Shrigley"),[\[14\]](#cite_note-14) and [Charlie Casely-Hayford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Casely-Hayford "Charlie Casely-Hayford").[\[15\]](#cite_note-15) In 2022 it collaborated with supermodel [Edie Campbell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edie_Campbell "Edie Campbell") for a womenswear capsule.[\[16\]](#cite_note-16) Sunspel has also collaborated with a number of leading brands including Comme des Garcons,[\[17\]](#cite_note-17) Lemaire,[\[18\]](#cite_note-18) and Paul Smith.[\[19\]](#cite_note-19)

To this day, Sunspel still operates from its Long Eaton factory where it has been based since 1937. The factory employs approximately 50 people and it is where Sunspel handmakes its Classic T-shirts.[\[8\]](#cite_note-Hodgkin-8) The brand continues to be stocked in leading global retailers and has its own retail stores worldwide.

The earliest garments that Sunspel produced were tunics and undershirts, which were manufactured in their Nottingham factory at the height of the [industrial revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution "Industrial Revolution"). Made from [Sea Island cotton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_island_cotton "Sea island cotton"), they were among the very first T-shirts ever made.[\[5\]](#cite_note-Sims-5) Sunspel manufactures T-shirts in its Long Eaton factory and uses extra-long staple [Supima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supima "Supima") cotton from [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California "California"), which can be traced to the farm it comes from.[\[8\]](#cite_note-Hodgkin-8)

Sunspel introduced the boxer short to the UK from the US in 1947 after John Hill, the great-grandson of founder Thomas Hill, discovered the style on his honeymoon in the US.[\[5\]](#cite_note-Sims-5) He modified the design in the process, adding a back panel, flattening the seams and using the highest quality cotton.[\[9\]](#cite_note-Prince-9) In 1985, [a Levis advertisement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Kamen#Career "Nick Kamen") saw English model [Nick Kamen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Kamen "Nick Kamen") wearing a pair of Sunspel boxer shorts.[\[20\]](#cite_note-20) This advertisement is widely attributed as being the moment that brought this underwear style to mass popularity in the UK.[\[21\]](#cite_note-Bischof-21)

In 2006, Sunspel designed a custom [polo shirt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo_shirt "Polo shirt") for Daniel Craig in his debut performance as [James Bond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond "James Bond") in [_Casino Royale_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Royale_\(2006_film\) "Casino Royale (2006 film)"). The shirt was based on a classic 1950s Sunspel polo shirt, which was selected and updated by award-winning stylist [Lindy Hemming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_Hemming "Lindy Hemming").[\[1\]](#cite_note-Gallagher-1) The Riviera Polo Shirt is made from extra-long staple [Supima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supima "Supima") cotton that can be traced to the Californian farm of origin.[\[22\]](#cite_note-22)

In 1985 [Nick Kamen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Kamen "Nick Kamen") starred in a celebrated [Levi's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Strauss_&_Co. "Levi Strauss & Co.") advertisement, in which he removed his jeans in a launderette, to reveal a pair of white Sunspel boxer shorts.[\[23\]](#cite_note-23)

In 2006 [Daniel Craig](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Craig "Daniel Craig") wore a Sunspel Riviera polo shirt[\[21\]](#cite_note-Bischof-21) and Riviera T-shirt in his first [James Bond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond "James Bond") film, [_Casino Royale_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Royale_\(2006_film\) "Casino Royale (2006 film)").[\[24\]](#cite_note-24)

[Christian Bale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Bale "Christian Bale") wore Sunspel in [The Dark Knight Rises](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Knight_Rises "The Dark Knight Rises").[\[25\]](#cite_note-25)

In 2013, [the Rolling Stones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones "The Rolling Stones") wore Sunspel T-shirts on their world tour.[\[26\]](#cite_note-26)

In 2016, the television football pundit [Gary Lineker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Lineker "Gary Lineker") undertook to present the season-opening edition of _[Match of the Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match_of_the_Day "Match of the Day")_ in his underpants if [Leicester City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_City_F.C. "Leicester City F.C.") became [Premier League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League "Premier League") Champions. He performed his promise in a pair of Sunspel boxer shorts.[\[27\]](#cite_note-27)

In the 2025 film, [F1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F1_\(film\) "F1 (film)"), [Brad Pitt's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Pitt "Brad Pitt") character Sonny Hayes wears a pink, and green sweatshirt from the brand.[\[28\]](#cite_note-28)[\[29\]](#cite_note-29)

-   [Drake's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake's_\(haberdashers\) "Drake's (haberdashers)")
-   [John Smedley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smedley_\(brand\) "John Smedley (brand)")

1.  [1](#cite_ref-Gallagher_1-0) [2](#cite_ref-Gallagher_1-1) [3](#cite_ref-Gallagher_1-2) [4](#cite_ref-Gallagher_1-3) Jacob Gallagher, _The Men's Book of Fashion_ (Phaidon, 2021), p.442
2.  [1](#cite_ref-Website_2-0) [2](#cite_ref-Website_2-1) [3](#cite_ref-Website_2-2) Sunspel official website, [_Our History_](https://www.sunspel.com/pages/our-history) (accessed, 8 June 2023)
3.  [1](#cite_ref-Mellors_3-0) [2](#cite_ref-Mellors_3-1) Robert Mellors, [_Men of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire_](http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/monographs/mellors1924/manufacturers1.htm) (Bell, 1924)
4.  [1](#cite_ref-Nottingham&Notts_4-0) [2](#cite_ref-Nottingham&Notts_4-1) Nottingham & Notts Illustrated, [_"Up-to-Date" Commercial Sketches_](http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/books/nottsillus1898/textiles10.htm) (Robinson, Son & Co. 1898)
5.  [1](#cite_ref-Sims_5-0) [2](#cite_ref-Sims_5-1) [3](#cite_ref-Sims_5-2) [4](#cite_ref-Sims_5-3) Josh Sims, _Icons of Men's Style_ (Lawrence King Publishers, 2011)
6.  [↑](#cite_ref-6) Kyle Thibodoux, [_Sunspel Polo Shirts and T-shirts: Is it worth it?_](https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/sunspel-polo-shirts-review/), Gentlemen's Gazette, 24 April 2022
7.  [↑](#cite_ref-7) [_Factory floor: how Sunspel makes its signature T-shirt_](https://www.ft.com/video/d1f735f4-e8f1-480a-95af-e788f35e3a2c), Financial Times, 19 January 2018
8.  [1](#cite_ref-Hodgkin_8-0) [2](#cite_ref-Hodgkin_8-1) [3](#cite_ref-Hodgkin_8-2) Beatrice Hodgkin (April 30, 2020), [_Sunspel survived the war; we will survive this too_](https://www.ft.com/content/b3126773-dfec-43cb-826a-ecaa75738d0f), Financial Times
9.  [1](#cite_ref-Prince_9-0) [2](#cite_ref-Prince_9-1) Bill Prince, [_The evolution of men's underwear: why boxer shorts are back_](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/mens-style/the-evolution-of-mens-underwear-why-boxer-shorts-are-back/), The Daily Telegraph, 25 August 2016
10.  [↑](#cite_ref-Telegraph_10-0) Sarah Shannon, [_Sunspel's Second Coming, Best of Fashion_](https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/sunspels-second-coming), Business of Fashion, 14 November 2017
11.  [1](#cite_ref-Broeke_11-0) [2](#cite_ref-Broeke_11-1) Teo van den Broeke, [_Bond's perfectly cut polo shirt is a timeless, covetable classic_](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fashion/article/james-bond-polo-shirt), GQ, 19 August 2021
12.  [↑](#cite_ref-12) Lauren Milligan, [_JW Anderson's Farewell Sunspel Collection_](https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/jw-anderson-sunspel-collaboration-collection), 26 February 2014, Vogue
13.  [↑](#cite_ref-13) Tim Chan, [_Style Council: Paul Weller unveils luxury capsule collection with Sunspel_](https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/paul-weller-sunspel-clothing-collection-1234595950/), 22 September 2022, Rolling Stone
14.  [↑](#cite_ref-14) Jonathan Evans, [_This collab will make you want to wear a suit again_](https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/a39666216/sunspel-casely-hayford-collaboration/), 8 April 2022, Esquire
15.  [↑](#cite_ref-15) Pauline de Leon, [_Sunspel's new Christmas jumpers are an ode to environmental awareness_](https://hypebae.com/2020/11/sunspel-david-shrigley-obe-collaboration-christmas-sweaters-jumpers-environmental-awareness-price-where-to-buy), 17 November 2020, Hypebae
16.  [↑](#cite_ref-16) Sara Semic, [_What happens when a supermodel meets Sunspel_](https://www.ft.com/content/aecf6796-dd1a-4987-abe9-5f8c1aa0e378), 27 September 2022 Financial Times
17.  [↑](#cite_ref-17) [_When Sunspel joins forces with the iconic brand Comme Des Garcons_](https://graduatestore.fr/en/content/52-sunspel-comme-des-garcons), Graduation Store (accessed on 8 June 2023)
18.  [↑](#cite_ref-18) Christel Divert, [_Lemaire collaborates with Veja and Sunspel for summer 2019_](https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/lemaire-collaborates-with-veja-and-sunspel-for-summer-2019,990226.html), 22 June 2018, Fashion Network
19.  [↑](#cite_ref-19) Justin Feller, [_Sunspel's New Collaboration With Lemaire Proves the French and the Brits Can Do Beautiful Things Together_](https://robbreport.co.uk/style/mens-fashion/sunspels-new-collaboration-with-lemaire-proves-the-french-and-the-brits-can-do-beautiful-things-together-2795660/), 29 August 2019, Robb Report
20.  [↑](#cite_ref-20) Archived at [Ghostarchive](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/Q56M5OZS1A8) and the [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20110724155846/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q56M5OZS1A8&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1): [_Levi's 501 commercial with Nick Kamen (Laundrette) (1985)_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q56M5OZS1A8). _[YouTube](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube "YouTube")_.
21.  [1](#cite_ref-Bischof_21-0) [2](#cite_ref-Bischof_21-1) Felix Bischof, [_The story of James Bond's favourite T-shirt brand_](https://www.theweek.co.uk/92111/the-story-of-james-bonds-favourite-t-shirt-brand), 6 March 2018, The Week
22.  [↑](#cite_ref-22) Maverick Li, [The 20 best polo shirts for men in 2023](https://www.menshealth.com/style/g19519678/best-polos-for-bar-or-beach/), 1 May 2023, Men's Health
23.  [↑](#cite_ref-23) Simon Chilvers, [_Men's fashion: Sunspel launch design-it-yourself T-shirts_](https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2011/nov/18/mens-fashion-t-shirts), The Guardian, 18 November 2011
24.  [↑](#cite_ref-24) Square Mile, [_Brand Watch: Sunspel_](https://squaremile.com/style/sunspel-brand-watch/), 25 June 2018
25.  [↑](#cite_ref-25) Adam Mansuroglu, [_Here's why I wear Sunspel's $90 Black T-shirt_](https://www.menshealth.com/style/a30609988/sunspel-t-shirt-review/), 21 January 2020, Men's Health
26.  [↑](#cite_ref-26) Sunspel official website, [_Drumroll Please, Remembering Charlie Watts_](https://www.sunspel.com/blogs/the-journal/drum-roll-remembering-charlie-watts-a-gentleman-of-rock-n-roll) (accessed 8 June 2023)
27.  [↑](#cite_ref-27) Sarah Shannon, [_Sunspel's Second Coming, Best of Fashion_](https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/sunspels-second-coming/), 14 November 2017, Business of Fashion
28.  [↑](#cite_ref-28) ["Verifying Device"](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/luxury/article/where-to-buy-brad-pitts-cool-f1-sweatshirt-times-luxury-2drxflz2k). _www.thetimes.com_. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
29.  [↑](#cite_ref-29) ["Brad Pitt Wears This Sunspel Sweatshirt in F1 The Movie. Here's How You Can Get Your Own"](https://www.esquire.com/uk/style/fashion/a65162268/brad-pitt-sunspel-sweatshirt-f1/). _Esquire_. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2026.

-   [Official website](https://www.sunspel.com/)