Sunspel

Sunspel's classic T-shirts are handmade in its own Long Eaton factory from fine, extra-long staple cotton, which is a big part of why they feel more substantial than a high-street tee. Many owners treat one as a long-running wardrobe staple rather than a throwaway. If you want a plain T-shirt done about as well as a plain T-shirt can be, it tends to earn its keep.

The price reflects both material and making: Sunspel uses fine, traceable extra-long staple Supima cotton and still handmakes its Classic T-shirts in its Long Eaton factory. You are paying for British manufacturing and a fabric chosen for smoothness and longevity rather than for a loud logo. For a wardrobe basic worn constantly, that quality is where the cost goes.

It is the Riviera Polo Shirt. In 2006, Sunspel designed a custom polo for Daniel Craig's debut as James Bond in Casino Royale, based on a classic 1950s Sunspel polo and updated by award-winning stylist Lindy Hemming. The Riviera Polo is made from extra-long staple Supima cotton traceable to its Californian farm of origin. That Bond moment is a big reason it became a signature piece.

Both are heritage British knitwear-and-basics makers, so shoppers often weigh them against each other. Sunspel leans on its fine cotton T-shirts, polos and boxers made in Long Eaton, while John Smedley is best known for its fine-gauge knitwear. The choice often comes down to fit and feel preference; many people who like Sunspel's cut on a polo or tee end up sticking with it.

Sunspel is an English luxury clothing brand founded in England in 1860. Its origins lie in Nottingham, then the centre of the British lace and hosiery industry, where the firm crafted high-quality underwear. Today it is based in Long Eaton, near Nottingham, where it runs its own factory.

Sunspel is best known for its boxer shorts, T-shirts and polo shirts. The brand was making some of the world's first T-shirts in the early 20th century and later introduced the boxer short to the UK. Those three pieces remain the heart of the collection.

The company was officially renamed Sunspel in 1935. The name was inspired by the quality-control stamp used for Sea Island cotton, with which the brand had become synonymous, featuring a sunburst through clouds. So the name itself is a nod to the fine cotton at the brand's core.

In 1947, John Hill, the great-grandson of founder Thomas Hill, discovered the boxer-short style on his honeymoon in the United States and brought it to the UK. He modified the design by adding a back panel, flattening the seams and using the highest-quality cotton. It is one of the brand's defining contributions to British menswear.

In 1985, model Nick Kamen starred in a celebrated Levi's advert in which he removed his jeans in a launderette to reveal a pair of white Sunspel boxer shorts. That moment is widely credited with bringing the boxer-short style to mass popularity in the UK. It cemented Sunspel's place in British underwear history.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Sunspel began using Sea Island cotton, described as the world's rarest and finest extra-long staple cotton. The brand became so associated with it that its quality stamp inspired the Sunspel name in 1935. Long-staple cotton makes for smoother, more durable cloth, which is exactly the appeal of a Sunspel basic.

Yes. Jonathan Anderson, who later became creative director of Loewe and founded his own label JW Anderson, was Sunspel's creative director between 2009 and 2014 and introduced the Loopback Sweatshirt to the collection. It is a notable chapter in the brand's modern story. The Loopback remains part of what people associate with that era.

Fine cotton lasts longest with a cool, gentle wash and air-drying rather than high dryer heat, which helps the fabric keep its shape and softness over many washes. Following the garment's own care label protects that extra-long staple cotton you paid for. Looked after this way, a Sunspel tee or polo is built to stay a staple for years.