Outfitters to
Gentlemen of
Sport
Since 1926
British clients who have sported Kent & Curwen include HRH the Prince of Wales, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Diana, Princess of Wales; Cary Grant, Michael Caine, Sean Connery and Mick Jagger. The brand’s international clientele has included Fred Astaire, Errol Flynn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Tom Cruise.
Kent & Curwen has had the privilege of dressing many of the most elegant sporting gentlemen in the world - as supplier of the rowing strip for the Oxford University Boat Club Crew, apparel sponsor for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, official Olympics uniform sponsor, and sponsor of major golf tournaments worldwide.
When Kent & Curwen was established in 1926 by Eric Kent and Dorothy Curwen, it began as a manufacturer of the finest quality regimental, club and college ties - supplying the venerable universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
In the late 1920s, Britain moved towards a less conservative form of neckwear and since Kent & Curwen’s bold and colourful club style ties embodied this spirit, the brand became supplier to Harrods, much of Jermyn Street, and the distinguished tailors of Savile Row, including the legendary Gieves and Hawkes at No.1 Savile Row.
As production of Kent & Curwen’s classic British ties continued over generations, the brand amassed a world record collection of 29,000 silk club ties.
In 1930 Kent & Curwen introduced the iconic cricket sweater — the traditional sweater in white or cream with its distinctive striped v-neck set a global trend, and was adopted by film stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood such as Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Laurence Olivier, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and C Aubrey Smith, who were members of the famous “Hollywood Cricket Club”.
Kent & Curwen went on to become the official outfitters to the English Cricket Team and to this day the Kent & Curwen cricket line remains a true classic of gentleman’s fashion.
At Kent & Curwen, British tailoring, design and craftsmanship refined over a period of almost a century has led to the perfection of the definitive gentleman’s polo shirt. Our polos combine fine tailoring with the invention and fit of modern design and remain an integral piece of British Fashion history.
Polo has long been known as the sport of kings, that is why each Kent & Curwen Polo is individually made with what is often referred to as the “King of Cottons” — Pima Cotton. Pima cotton surpasses other cottons in quality and handle, they are up to 45% stronger than other cottons, display excellent colour retention, and an extra long staple means each polo has a much softer touch, natural lustre appearance and less piling during wear.
Throughout our history, Kent & Curwen has produced some of the
finest rugbies attainable — each rugby shirt is faithful to the style
and construction of the original rugby shirts worn by the early rugby
pioneers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — as such, our
shirts remain 100% pure cotton, and include a traditional three button
cotton collar in white.
Across generations, the full spectrum of British club colours have
featured in the Kent & Curwen Rugby line, and these colours have
come to represent the bravest men of the elite.
