The SAINT JAMES OUESSANT is a basque shirt that is considered an enduring classic. This authentic piece is made of thick cotton and is useful for a wide range of coordinates. This time, we focus on the St. James “Wesson” and introduce its charm and recommended models!
Suponsered by
St. James, a long-established French brand that continues to be patronized for its traditional manufacturing methods
St. James is an apparel brand established in 1889. It was founded in the city of St. James in the Normandy region of northern France, named after the town. In the mid-19th century, after the Industrial Revolution, the spinning and dyeing industry, which had been manual work until then, was industrialized by Léon Lugaret, the mayor of St. James at the time. The high quality wool from the sheep raised on the flats of Mont Saint-Michel produced the marine sweater, an important work wear for the local fishermen and sailors, and became the prototype for the practical St. James shirt of today. With this background, the business grew rapidly in the 20th century and developed into a brand that dealt with marine sports and casual wear. The spirit of manufacturing using traditional methods has remained unchanged to the present day.
Incidentally, the phrase “Né de la mer” attached to the brand logo means “born from the sea” in French. It expresses the fact that St. James products are born from the sea life in Normandy and coexist with nature.
The roots of St. James border shirts
Pas Normandie, where the city of St. James is located, has been a prosperous trading area with England since the 18th century. For sailors sailing on rough seas, warm and durable work clothes that protect them from rain and wind are important necessities. The red, blue, and white tricolor or border pattern, which is easy to distinguish even in poor visibility at sea, became the prototype for the border shirt. St. James’ standard shirts, “OUESSANT” and “PIRIAC,” are derived from the names of islands in the particularly rough waters off the coast of Normandy. St. James’ border shirts were introduced to Japan about 40 years ago. It was a pioneer in marine style and sparked the border shirt boom. Since then, the brand’s timeless style and long-lasting quality have made it popular among both men and women of all ages. Today, they are an indispensable casual item with a French taste.
What is St. James’ masterpiece basque shirt ” Wesson
The Wesson is one of St. James’ signature pieces. It is a cut-and-sewn shirt called a basque shirt, and inherits the style of good old work clothes worn by fishermen and yachtsmen in the Normandy region. The company insists on “Made in France” and strictly controls the quality of its products to maintain a constant high level of quality. All processes from yarn selection, spinning, dyeing, knitting, and sewing are carried out at the head office factory. The practical design and 100% cotton material are extremely durable and were born from the sea life in Normandy. The fact that the design has remained almost unchanged since its inception is proof of its high degree of perfection, leaving no room for improvement.
