Article of Note: The Gingham Shirt
With its roots in Scottish design, but with an undeniably English feel, the Gingham shirt has been an iconic Ben Sherman staple for over 50 years
words by Elliot RAMSEY
Having first been produced in the UK in the factories and mills of Manchester in the 18th century, gingham has a quintessentially British history as a lightweight and versatile garment associated with subcultural style. From the classic white and black checked pattern favoured by mods in the 1950s and 60s, to the more daring colour choices popularised in recent years, the gingham shirt has proven that it has the staying power to transcend generational boundaries and maintain a timeless appeal.
From the mid-twentieth century, British mods, responding to the use of gingham in French and Italian tailoring, took the fabric and repurposed it as an informal, relaxed sartorial staple. Worn in part as a reaction to the rocker and Teddy Boy movements which had preceded them, the mods gave it a fresh, modern look and made it a symbol of resistance to the status quo. The Ben Sherman gingham’s two-finger button-down collar and branded top-pocket tab gave the garment a manifest edge over other checked shirts, oozing a style and sophistication that has earned it an iconic reputation for the last five decades.
With a clean, simple silhouette and woven using a 100% cotton staple yarn, the Ben Sherman gingham shirt is a benchmark of quality and authenticity – and its reputation as a timeless classic continues to develop to this day. From its original association with Lambretta-riders and Vespa enthusiasts in the heyday of the mods, to its 21st century resurgence in popularity, the gingham shirt is an archetypal British institution which has continually reinvented itself and proven its versatility as a chief player in men’s style.
Renowned today as a quintessential trademark of British culture and inherited by new generations, the gingham shirt is, at its core, a statement. A marker of taste, modest yet modern, something for an outfit to be built around and which speaks to a rich history unwaveringly committed to tradition. As a classic heritage piece with a prestigious reputation, the gingham shirt – and Ben Sherman as a brand – represents the ultimate sartorial statement. Subversive in character, forward-thinking by nature, and peerless in quality. EJ
The New Kids on the Block
This June, Ben Sherman hosted their first events with the Momentum Music Fund, as part of their partnership with the PRS Foundation. Having long been champions of the enduring relationship between music and fashion, the heritage clothing brand are playing their part in showcasing up-and-coming talent from around the country, celebrating the very best of British.
The first gig in the series was held on May 23rd at the Carnaby St. Store in London, featuring Babeheaven & Fur. The second headed east to the iconic venue, the Old Blue Last – a venue of rich history, having been built in 1700 on the site of Britain’s first purpose-built theatre.Renowned throughout the Victorian era as a working class pub, and having survived for over 300 years on the corner of Great Eastern Street and Curtain Road, the Old Blue Last is steeped in British heritage and was the perfect venue for Ben Sherman’s second event with PRS featuring Paris Youth Foundation, Zilo and Life. More recently, on June 13th, Ten Fé and CHILDCARE, also performed at Ben Sherman’s flagship Carnaby Street store as part of Carnaby Street Music Month.
Showcasing some of the UK’s best burgeoning stars, these events highlight Ben Sherman’s passion for promoting new, exciting talent from up and down the country. The clothing brand’s exciting new partnership with PRS is putting the spotlight on the new kids on the block, whose countercultural style reflects both Ben Sherman’s quintessential British ethos and ardent commitment to unconventionality in innovation. EJ