Monocle x Pitti Uomo
#2 - UK
Editorial
Edition 99
17.03.2021
How can I discover the world’s best menswear?
In partnership with Monocle 

Pitti Uomo will return in June for its 100th edition.  In the meantime, we have teamed up with Monocle magazine, which has gathered together a list of its favourite British and Japanese brands.

Much more than a biannual clothing fair, Pitti Uomo is a symbol for the power of gathering expertise and sharing excellence. Based in Florence, its potency lies in its global reach. Brands the world over benefit from its international influence. Clothing ateliers and specialist apparel manufacturers in the UK and Japan always make a strong showing at the week-long affair. Both markets are key to Pitti’s position as a premium agent for the continued development of an independent spirit in the menswear trade. 
 
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Country of Origin’s fun, bright, blocky knitwear has earned the UK-based brand a cult following since it launched in 2014. Production now takes place in England’s Wigston and collaborations with the likes of Bergdorf Goodman are testament to a label that has quickly cemented itself in the international fashion scene. 
BEGG X CO
With experience dating back to 1860, Begg x Co technicians use a wide variety of weaving and finishing apparatus in the manufacture of its exceptional scarves, stoles, sweaters and throws. Drawing inspiration from Scotland’s magnificent landscapes, the Ayrshire factory is home to generations of proud local craftspeople.
JOHN SMEDLEY
A colossus in British fashion, John Smedley was founded in 1784 and lays claim to being “the world’s finest knitwear”. Its site at Lea Mills in Derbyshire is the oldest manufacturing factory in the world and its fabrics have earned its products a royal warrant for quality.
UNIVERSAL WORKS
David Keyte co-founded Universal Works from his kitchen table in 2009 with the aim of making “real, honest clothing based on fit and good design, though never over-designed”. The result is a back-to-basics line of essential work shirts, task jackets and functional clothing in an array of neutral colours. The look is very much “fatigue chic”.
SUNSPEL
Founded in 1860, Sunspel made its name producing luxury T-shirts in the late 19th century and introduced boxer shorts to the UK in 1947. Polo shirts would follow in the 1950s and Sunspel’s status as a British leisurewear icon stuck. Every garment is designed and handcrafted in Derbyshire from natural, organic and even recyclable materials when possible. The brand has a strong sense of tradition, history and craft but does not rest on its laurels. In recent times it has collaborated with musician Paul Weller and created clothing for Daniel Craig to wear in his role as James Bond. 
GRIFFIN
JEFF GRIFFIN, 
FOUNDER, GRIFFIN 

Where is Griffin based? 
At Loveland Farm in Devon [in the UK], where we grow fruit and vegetables and tend animals. We use green energy and manage our studio with fresh air and creative clarity. 

Why is Pitti Uomoso important?
It is where any relevant brand should be. We love to network with other brands and manufacturers. 

What’s next for Griffin? 
Nature has shown us how to evolve and adapt. We are using limited production runs, second-life fabrics and upcycling to create outerwear to last a lifetime.