Discover the man behind the Ben Sherman brand
The Ben Sherman brand started with a shirt. A simple idea influenced by the classic Ivy League button-up, but with additional touches and quality fabrics carefully selected by its dapper creator Ben Sherman.
Brighton-born Arthur Benjamin Sugarman left post-war Britain at the age of 20 for a bright future in America. There he raised a family and began working for his father-in-law at his clothing manufacturing company. Upon Ben’s return to Brighton in 1963 – with his enhanced skills and Americanised name – he rented a factory in Bedford Square and began making shirts for others, before putting into practise his own ideas.
Inspired by the stiff-collared shirts polo players wore during a game, Ben added the distinct details of a back hook and a button on the back of the collar, and chose high quality fabrics to create the first-ever Ben Sherman shirt. Ben put time, effort and passion into selecting patterns and colours for his unique shirting, and boxed each finished garment individually – a rare trait in those days. Meeting the mod movement head on, the Ben Sherman brand became revolutionary amongst England’s young and stylish in the swinging 60s.
Remaining at the helm of the label until the mid 1970s, Ben then retired to Australia. Now for the first time, this renowned brand has opened shop in Brisbane at the new Wintergarden, bringing Ben’s modernised red, white and blue shirts, knits and jackets just in time for winter.
Image via Hype Beast.