Sunspel releases Ian Fleming Sea Island cotton collection

James Bond creator Ian Fleming was a devoted fan of Sea Island cotton. He frequently wore the fabric, and often dressed his literary creation, James Bond, in it too. In homage, Sunspel and The Ian Fleming Estate have come together to produce a range of menswear made from the same rare material.

Fleming was fascinated by this fine cotton. He loved to wear it, particularly at Goldeneye, his house in Jamaica where he wrote all 14 James Bond books. He and Bond, however, favoured the material wherever they were, from their shirts to their boxer shorts.

"He had shaved, gargled with a sharp mouthwash, and now, in a battered black and white dogtooth suit, dark blue Sea Island cotton shirt and black silk knitted tie, he was walking softly, but not surreptitiously, along the corridor to the head of the stairs, the square leather case in his left hand."
James Bond in Ian Fleming’s novel, Moonraker, 1955

Sea Island cotton accounts for only 0.0004% of the world’s supplies, making it one of the rarest cottons. It takes great skill to spin its fine fibres, but when spun it produces the softest, silkiest cotton imaginable. Sunspel has a long history with this much sought-after, handpicked long-staple cotton and still imports it from the Caribbean. This season Sunspel has used it to make a distinctive collection characterised by great softness. The fine uniform texture, silky lustre, and great tensile strength of the cotton create clothes that are remarkably long lasting.

The Ian Fleming™ collection includes crisp shirts, soft fully-fashioned knitted Polo Shirts, jumpers and boxer shorts, all in a cool, restrained palette of white, navy, sky blue, grey and green.

Camp collar shirt

The Sunspel design team looked to the Fifties, when Fleming brought his daring spy hero, James Bond, to life. Hence the inclusion of a camp collar shirt and short sleeve knitted Polo which both have a retro mid-century feel to them.

The Sea Island Cotton Camp Collar Shirt is available in Navy.
Buy on Sunspel.com (£195 / $270 / €235)
 

Sea Island Knit Polo Shirt

The Sunspel Ian Fleming Sea Island Knit Polo Shirt is available in Sky, Navy, Samphire and Magnesium.
Buy at Sunspel.com (£185 / $275 / €225)
 

Sea Island Knit Long Sleeve Jumper

The Sunspel Ian Fleming Sea Island Knit Jumper is available in Sky, Navy, Samphire and Magnesium
Buy at Sunspel.com (£185 / $275 / €225)
 

Sea Island Knit Cardigan

The Sunspel Ian Fleming Sea Island Knit Cardigan is available in Navy, Samphire and Magnesium.
Buy at Sunspel.com (£215 / $295 / €255)
 

Tropical Wool Trouser

The Tropical Wool Trouser is only available in the color Navy.
Buy at Sunspel.com (£195 / $260 / €235)

The Ian Fleming™ collection is available at Sunspel stores and online at Sunspel.com, as well as at international stockists including Fortnum & Mason, Printemps and Holt Renfrew.

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Photography by Rich Stapleton