BEHIND THE BRAND: RAG & BONE

April 26, 2011

A heavyweight, 100 per cent cotton fabric woven in Japan gives the shirt a distinguished look and a pleasingly substantial feel. Inside, a luxurious ivory-coloured Japanese cotton lines the collar, yoke and cuffs.

Mr Marcus Wainwright and Mr David Neville spent time learning techniques from traditional garment manufacturers in Kentucky. The designers have attracted widespread critical acclaim, and currently employ 100 staff from 25 different countries in their headquarters in New York City.

The shirt has a placket front, a chest pocket and a yoke on the back with a locker loop, which is a subtle workwear-inspired detail. The darts on the back give the shirt a slim, sleek fit.

The metal buttons are made in Argentina and are hand painted white before being tumbled for a worn, vintage effect. The cuffs fasten with two buttons and the collar buttons down. Button-down collars were originally developed for polo players to prevent their collars from flapping in their faces during matches, but have since become a wardrobe staple.

Striped button-down collar shirt by rag & bone

Words by Mr Peter Henderson | Photography by Mr Will Thom

"We're not about being avant-garde at rag & bone; we want it to be believable and we want people
to feel good."

Mr David Neville, co-founder, rag & bone

New York brand rag & bone was founded by the British duo Mr Marcus Wainwright and Mr David Neville in 2002. Mr Wainwright was a telecoms consultant and Mr Neville a banker before the pair established their label, with the simple goal of producing well-made, understated clothes that the designers themselves and their friends would want to wear. Although Mr Wainwright and Mr Neville had no formal fashion training, they quickly became experts in producing functional, workwear-inspired clothes with a strong emphasis on quality and fit, thanks to the time the pair spent in Kentucky - where they learned directly from the traditional workwear and denim manufactures in the area. Indeed, it was a quest for the perfect pair of jeans which initially spurred Mr Wainwright into action, after he moved to New York in 2001 with his American girlfriend. Since the first men's collection was launched in 2004, rag & bone has gone from strength to strength, with the designers winning numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Menswear Designer of the Year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America last year.

AND HOW TO WEAR IT

THE CHECK SHIRT

The Gorillaz collaborator, Mr Remi Kabaka, models a casual
check shirt by rag & bone

THE CLASSIC BLAZER

Brooklyn-based actor Mr Jon Paul shows us that you just can't go wrong in
rag & bone's stylish navy blazer

THE PATCHWORK SHIRT

Financier and art collector Mr Michael Murphy wears rag & bone's
elegant oxford shirt

THE JEANS

Mr John Slattery wears rag & bone's straight fit dark denim jeans. Denim is a speciality: the brand was born out of a mission to create the perfect jeans