The eagle-eyed shoppers amongst us may have spotted the latest addition to our collection, the Extra-Long Staple Cotton Coach Polo. In 2025, we will be expanding into new product categories outside of knitwear, and this polo shirt is the first of several new pieces. There’s more to come and we’ll be announcing other new garments later in the season. In the near future, we are hoping to be able to offer our customers a wide variety of clothing for all weather types and occasions and, consequently, a full wardrobe of the highest quality.
As ever, our non-knitwear garments will be approached with the same considered design, high quality raw materials, and expert craftsmanship as our knitted pieces. Our philosophy of offering our customers superb quality garments that they can treasure and rely on to last is at the forefront of every decision and move we make.
Why Japanese-Made?
Unlike our knitwear, which is made in Scotland, this new polo is made much further afield in Japan. Whatever the product, our standards will never be compromised and so for this piece, made from cotton, we looked overseas for production.
With the main goal, as always, being a quality product, we wanted to take this to the manufacturer that could offer the highest standards and the very best outcomes. To find the very best cotton garment makers, we looked to Japan.
Japan has a very long history of producing classic sportswear and dealing with cotton. They have had their own cotton knitting industry, known as meriyasu, for some time now and so garment makers here have wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from.
Culturally, Japan possesses a desire for precision that’s second to none, something that’s crucial when it comes to producing garments of supreme quality. There is a real commitment to quality and executing every step and procedure correctly in Japan that we, as a company, admire and align with.
Post-war, many garment makers spent time in Europe immersing themselves in this industry and learning its ins and outs. On returning to Japan, they were armed with a great deal of knowledge and new technologies that they could employ in their own businesses. Today, as with here in the UK, the number of heritage makers in Japan is decreasing. The rare ones that do remain are extremely high quality but also very expensive and so it is not widely popular as a manufacturing hub.
We knew that a cotton garment maker in Japan would have values and standards that are parallel to ours. In line with our philosophy, we want to champion those who are the very best at making whichever item we want to produce, and so we knew Japan was the go-to.
Having made this decision we set about researching individual makers in Japan and settled on a company who have been producing cotton clothing since 1950, possessing unrivalled experience and incredibly impressive craftsmanship.
Extra-long Staple Cotton Coach Polo - The Details
The polo itself mirrors much of what we do with knitwear: colours that promise that all important balance of sophistication and discretion, unrivalled versatility, and design that flatters the body.
As always, we have selected the best materials and the polo is made from extra-long staple cotton in a Giza/Australian blend. This is cotton like no other, soft to the touch and tremendously luxurious. The cotton yarns are produced from longer length fibres which, much like knitwear, create a sturdier and stronger, yet softer, cotton. Of course, we’d never neglect the details; the buttons on this polo are mother of pearl.
In terms of the design, you’ll notice we have chosen slightly longer sleeves which sit just above the elbow. Many polos on the market today stop mid-bicep, but we feel the longer length offers a more elegant and sophisticated look as well as making the polo accessible to those of us who perhaps would rather cover our arms.
To avoid a boxy look that is often seen in modern polos, we’ve ensured the body of the sweater is slightly more fitted too.
We’ve chosen a length that works well either untucked, or tucked in, offering versatility in terms of the formality of your outfit. Dress it up or dress it down, the shirt is still incredibly flattering. The collar itself features longer points and a higher stand at the back of the neck, meaning you can wear a tailored jacket easily and not have to be concerned that the collar is getting squashed.
The shirt is inspired by gym polos of the past and the ribbed cuffs and hem are a nod to them. They were frequently seen on retro sweatshirts and offer a comfortable fit. This feature means the shirt stays in place when you’re moving around and isn’t restrictive to wear.
If you’re interested in our new polo shirts, you can learn more and pre-order here.