Like a pair of hardy denim jeans, or your favourite Red Wing boots, there’s something enduring about a well-made sweatshirt.
Just like the aforementioned wardrobe staples, a good sweat will get straight to work in assimilating itself to your every curve, shape, and movement, the net result being it becomes reliable, comfortable, and in truth, an absolute bargain. Few day-to-day situations are unsuitable for a faithful sweatshirt.
There is of course plenty of choice out there, and it can be a challenge to arrive at the right sweatshirt for you, especially when buying online. Fortunately for you, however, we’ve seen this gear up close and personal and can confidently state it ticks more boxes than an automated box-ticking farm in the far east. Do they exist? They probably do.
Admiral have been around longer than any of your living relatives. Formed in 1914, the British sportswear institution was founded at a time when branded goods were scarce in comparison to today. Lots of manufacturing was going on in the UK and the austere needs of the public weren’t as fickle and logo-led as today. Consequently, the military and sporting garments made by Admiral and their contemporaries were rarely big and boastful, branding wise. They were function-first, which meant construction was key. I must stop with this needless alliteration.
Anyway, as the Admiral brand became slowly but surely (I’ve done it again) better known, the Leicestershire- based company grew. By the 1960s they were perfectly primed (oops) for the advent of colour television and of course England’s 1966 triumph. Off the back of this, a new impetus powered Admiral to the forefront of football kits. This is the era many know and love Admiral for, but without the foundation of several decades making both garments and their name, they wouldn’t have been so well-placed to occupy that pioneering place in football’s history.
Prior to this, they made stuff like this – The Rowley Raglan (ah, now the alliteration makes sense). This reimagined contemporary sweatshirt employs all of the lessons learned down the years by the brand. The word Raglan of course refers to the notably different way in which the sleeves join the body of the garment. The history of this precedes even Admiral, by almost another 100 years.
The Raglan sleeve was actually born out of necessity, not as a fashion statement. Way back in 1815 FitzRoy Somerset was honoured with the Army Gold Cross and Military General Service Medal for his military service having lost his right arm during the Battle of Waterloo. He needed a design that would make dressing easier and produce much-needed flexibility to swing his sword during battle. By extending the sleeve to become part of the shoulder, creating a diagonal seam from the underarm to the collar, his tailor achieved this. For his courage and commitment to the British Army, The Crown offered him a peerage, and FitzRoy Somerset became the first Baron of Raglan and the name of this garment style was born.
Who knew such a simple piece of clothing could be imbued with such heritage? Well, we knew, and if you didn’t, you do now.
See more now at ASGco.
