The Crew Neck Sweatshirt
You might not have paid much attention to your sweatshirts until now. And that’s fine. They are simple, staple pieces that just, kind of, are. There isn’t typically much to write home about with a plain grey or navy one, other than the fact they are comfortable, easy to wear items that are slightly sportier substitutes for mid-weight knitwear. So you might have expected us to overlook certain design aspects and fabric choices when it comes to making our own. You would, of course, be wrong on both accounts.
We’re strongly of the opinion that it’s wise to invest in quality jersey items, because a) you’ll likely find yourself wearing them multiple times a week throughout the year and b) a good set will hold its shape, look incredibly stylish and more importantly, get better with wear. This is why, for our simple crew neck jersey, we’ve paid just as much attention to it as we would with some of our more complicated shapes and silhouettes. So what exactly is it that makes ours so special?
The Crew Neck Sweatshirt
You might not have paid much attention to your sweatshirts until now. And that’s fine. They are simple, staple pieces that just, kind of, are. There isn’t typically much to write home about with a plain grey or navy one, other than the fact they are comfortable, easy to wear items that are slightly sportier substitutes for mid-weight knitwear. So you might have expected us to overlook certain design aspects and fabric choices when it comes to making our own. You would, of course, be wrong on both accounts.
We’re strongly of the opinion that it’s wise to invest in quality jersey items, because a) you’ll likely find yourself wearing them multiple times a week throughout the year and b) a good set will hold its shape, look incredibly stylish and more importantly, get better with wear. This is why, for our simple crew neck jersey, we’ve paid just as much attention to it as we would with some of our more complicated shapes and silhouettes. So what exactly is it that makes ours so special?
The crew neck sweatshirt is a staple of the modern wardrobe. While it was originally designed as a warm up top for American football players in the early 20th century, it’s transcended its roots to become something of a classic. Its minimal design and soft cotton jersey fabric makes it imminently wearable. Indeed, you can just throw one on with a pair of jeans and go, without having to think too much about what you’re wearing. Ours continues this heritage, and is arguably one of the easiest pieces we offer. But it also moves the goal posts - subtly but effectively - with a few small changes that combine to create something that’s greater than the sum of its parts. But back to that in a moment.
Our crew neck is, for all intents and purposes, a classically designed sweatshirt that can complement a wide range of both smart and casual looks. It’s modelled after traditional pieces from the mid century with its relaxed, slightly boxy cut, large ribbed hem and cuffs and minimal tonal stitching. But it differs first and foremost with its fabric. Traditional sweatshirts from the names you know and love often skimp on this crucial element, opting for cheaper, lightweight fabrics that simply don’t last. We of course have gone the opposite route. Sourcing the correct fabric wasn’t easy, so we teamed up with jersey specialist Andrew Shane to track down the perfect 425g Japanese cotton loopback. It’s a heavyweight jersey, with a soft yet robust hand-feel. We’re so confident with it that we use it for our entire range of sweats. With the crew neck it works perfectly, making it feel like a piece you proudly want to show off, rather than just throw on when you’re at a loose end. And what about those other details?
At first glance, our crew neck sweatshirt looks like many others you may have seen. It comes with a minimal neckline with simple ‘triangle’ stitching in tonal thread, resulting in a clean, more modern looking finish. This triangle originally featured on sweatshirts to help channel sweat down from the neck. Today, it just looks cool. Elsewhere, it has in-set sleeves for a more tailored finish and a less sloppy look than raglan shoulders, which are the more traditional alternative. This gives our crew neck a smarter feel and further pulls it away from its sporting roots, making it better complement chinos or denim jeans.
It’s an inherently luxurious piece thanks to its construction and fabric, which are as good as it gets. But unless you know what you’re looking for, and really get up close, it just looks like a really well-fitting, minimal jumper. It’s quite stealthy in a way, and embodies a sense of understated, laid back elegance. The only hint of branding is our signature copper rivet, featured on the bottom corner just above the hem. It says ‘made in our own factory’, which of course the crew neck, as well as everything else we produce, is.
As previously mentioned, there perhaps isn’t another garment that’s as easy to wear as our crew neck sweatshirt. Regardless of the colour, whether you go for grey, navy or forest green, this is a piece that will slot effortlessly into your wardrobe, and will likely become one of the most worn pieces in your rotation. This is because of its easy, minimal design and beautifully soft fabric - once you try it on you won’t want to take off. And you certainly won’t want to settle for anything less again. It’s the ideal middle ground piece, given that it happily borders the smart casual divide.
You can, of course, dress it down. This is the easy bit and simply requires a pair of jeans - blue or black, it doesn’t matter - your favourite pair of trainers, and a light jacket, like a Harrington. But the crew neck works surprisingly well dressed up, too. Combine a grey version with a pair of stone chinos, and finish with suede chukka boots and a tailored overcoat for a sophisticated take on weekend attire.
This is a look you can wear to the pub, a first date or even a show in town. And, thanks to the sweatshirt, you’ll be incredibly comfortable throughout.
For those that want an even more elevated Sweatshirt experience...
...we have developed an all new and exclusive cashmere blend jersey that is now available in our Crew Neck, Eden Hoodie 2.0 and Sweatpants.
And then there’s the pockets. Why don’t more sweatshirts have pockets? Like with a hoodie they’re incredibly handy, but unlike traditional hoodie ‘kangaroo’ pockets, they’re hidden, instead stitched into the side seams. That means the pockets are there when you need them, but when not in use they fade into the background. Which to be fair, isn’t a bad description for the overall feel of the crew neck.
The crew neck sweatshirt is a staple of the modern wardrobe. While it was originally designed as a warm up top for American football players in the early 20th century, it’s transcended its roots to become something of a classic. Its minimal design and soft cotton jersey fabric makes it imminently wearable. Indeed, you can just throw one on with a pair of jeans and go, without having to think too much about what you’re wearing. Ours continues this heritage, and is arguably one of the easiest pieces we offer. But it also moves the goal posts - subtly but effectively - with a few small changes that combine to create something that’s greater than the sum of its parts. But back to that in a moment.
THE CREW NECK SWEATSHIRT
Our crew neck is, for all intents and purposes, a classically designed sweatshirt that can complement a wide range of both smart and casual looks. It’s modelled after traditional pieces from the mid century with its relaxed, slightly boxy cut, large ribbed hem and cuffs and minimal tonal stitching. But it differs first and foremost with its fabric. Traditional sweatshirts from the names you know and love often skimp on this crucial element, opting for cheaper, lightweight fabrics that simply don’t last. We of course have gone the opposite route. Sourcing the correct fabric wasn’t easy, so we teamed up with jersey specialist Andrew Shane to track down the perfect 425g Japanese cotton loopback. It’s a heavyweight jersey, with a soft yet robust hand-feel. We’re so confident with it that we use it for our entire range of sweats. With the crew neck it works perfectly, making it feel like a piece you proudly want to show off, rather than just throw on when you’re at a loose end. And what about those other details?
At first glance, our crew neck sweatshirt looks like many others you may have seen. It comes with a minimal neckline with simple ‘triangle’ stitching in tonal thread, resulting in a clean, more modern looking finish. This triangle originally featured on sweatshirts to help channel sweat down from the neck. Today, it just looks cool. Elsewhere, it has in-set sleeves for a more tailored finish and a less sloppy look than raglan shoulders, which are the more traditional alternative. This gives our crew neck a smarter feel and further pulls it away from its sporting roots, making it better complement chinos or denim jeans.
It’s an inherently luxurious piece thanks to its construction and fabric, which are as good as it gets. But unless you know what you’re looking for, and really get up close, it just looks like a really well-fitting, minimal jumper. It’s quite stealthy in a way, and embodies a sense of understated, laid back elegance. The only hint of branding is our signature copper rivet, featured on the bottom corner just above the hem. It says ‘made in our own factory’, which of course the crew neck, as well as everything else we produce, is.
As previously mentioned, there perhaps isn’t another garment that’s as easy to wear as our crew neck sweatshirt. Regardless of the colour, whether you go for grey, navy or forest green, this is a piece that will slot effortlessly into your wardrobe, and will likely become one of the most worn pieces in your rotation. This is because of its easy, minimal design and beautifully soft fabric - once you try it on you won’t want to take off. And you certainly won’t want to settle for anything less again. It’s the ideal middle ground piece, given that it happily borders the smart casual divide.
You can, of course, dress it down. This is the easy bit and simply requires a pair of jeans - blue or black, it doesn’t matter - your favourite pair of trainers, and a light jacket, like a Harrington. But the crew neck works surprisingly well dressed up, too. Combine a grey version with a pair of stone chinos, and finish with suede chukka boots and a tailored overcoat for a sophisticated take on weekend attire.
This is a look you can wear to the pub, a first date or even a show in town. And, thanks to the sweatshirt, you’ll be incredibly comfortable throughout.
For those that want an even more elevated Sweatshirt experience...
...we have developed an all new and exclusive cashmere blend jersey that is now available in our Crew Neck, Eden Hoodie 2.0 and Sweatpants.
And then there’s the pockets. Why don’t more sweatshirts have pockets? Like with a hoodie they’re incredibly handy, but unlike traditional hoodie ‘kangaroo’ pockets, they’re hidden, instead stitched into the side seams. That means the pockets are there when you need them, but when not in use they fade into the background. Which to be fair, isn’t a bad description for the overall feel of the crew neck.
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