Travel to the southeastern corner of France, and you’ll find yourself in the dreamy expanse of the Côte d’Azur. Famous for its blue skies, warm climate and for hosting the Cannes Film Festival, this sun-drenched enclave is also the birthplace of Sunspel’s Riviera Polo shirt.
This refined take on a wardrobe classic features a two-button placket, a neatly structured collar, a front chest pocket and a tailored silhouette that makes for a complementary fit. But what sets the Sunspel Riviera apart is its innovative fabric.
‘It was created by the great-grandson of our founder, who sought to develop the ideal fabric for his holidays,’ explains Sunspel’s creative director, David Telfer. Originally designed in 1955, Peter Hill found the dense piqué polos of the time too heavy for the Blue Coast, where temperatures often soar above 30 degrees. Thus, Q75 was born – an innovative, lightweight fabric that remains the defining feature of the shirt today. ‘Dissatisfied with the heavy, harsh piqués available at the time, he designed a breathable, lightweight warp knit mesh that offered both comfort and elegance,’ Telfer continues.
From the quiet romance of the Côte d’Azur to the high-stakes glamour of Hollywood, the Riviera Polo cemented its cult status half a century after its inception when it appeared in 2006’s Casino Royale. And it’s hard to imagine a more fitting garment for Daniel Craig’s 007 debut, something Telfer credits as pivotal to the shirt’s lasting appeal: ‘Its iconic status was solidified when Lindy Hemming was tasked with reimagining James Bond’s style, choosing Sunspel as the British brand to define the new era.’
Working closely with the Oscar-winning costume designer, Sunspel refined the fit, slimming the chest and shortening the sleeves to perfectly suit Craig’s frame, ‘She tailored the Riviera Polo specifically for Casino Royale, marking a shift to a more contemporary and authentic Bond.’ The shirt’s traditional British heritage mixed with its contemporary charm, solidifies it as the perfect off-duty uniform for the world’s most legendary spy.
Founded as an underwear brand, Sunspel has always understood that true luxury starts with what lies beneath the surface. That’s why it promises to pay careful attention to every part of the supply chain, from the California farm that grows the brand’s favoured Supima cotton to the factories that craft its final product. It ensures each and every stage adheres to the brand’s four key principles – a set of values intrinsically tied to ethics and sustainability.
And the Riviera Polo is no exception. Crafted from Californian Supima, one of the world’s finest and rarest cottons, the fabric’s extra-long staple fibres make it not only exceptionally soft but also 40 per cent longer than standard cotton, increasing durability and resistance.
‘The design has remained unchanged, with only one improvement: an upgrade to extra-long staple Supima cotton, enhancing durability, softness and traceability, ensuring the Riviera Polo remains a true classic,’ says Telfer.
Beyond fabric innovation, sustainability is woven into Sunspel’s DNA. The majority of its cotton can be traced back to a single family-owned farm in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Established in 1920, the farm upholds the highest environmental standards, practicing crop rotation to replenish soil nutrients and using drip irrigation to minimise water consumption.
Longevity is not just a promise but a practice at Sunspel. The brand maintains longstanding relationships with its suppliers and fosters a team of second- and third-generation employees, some of whom have been with the company for more than two decades.
‘The Riviera Polo is a perfect example of innovative design meeting timeless style,’ Telfer concludes. There’s an inherent ease to the shirt, so much so that even Bond’s esteemed suaveness feels within reach. Comfortable, versatile and effortlessly charming, it’s difficult to comprehend the level of care and expertise that goes into its creation. However, this is the real appeal of Sunspel, because true quality isn’t just about the finished product.
Sunspel Riviera Polo Shirt, £135; sunspel.com
Farah Thorndycraft is a London-based writer
