The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2021 - Issue 30

Jada Brookes admires SIRPLUS’ sustainable approach to using surplus fabric in their collections to create contemporary menswear including the Nehru influence. bitemen T oday, it’s sustainably good practice for a brand or de- signer to make use of the leftover fabric that would otherwise be thrown away and possibly end up in a landfill. As we become more environmentally conscience with many geared toward slow fashion rather than fast, it is no wonder that menswear brand SIRPLUS, a kind of twist on the word ‘surplus’, stands on the simple idea that, “throw- ing away fabric that’s no longer wanted or isn’t cool anymore, isn’t, well…cool anymore.” SIRPLUS founder Henry Hales discovered that London’s shirt-makers often had surplus fabric after making their gar- ments that were thrown away as they were considered un- sellable or useless. Having started life in 2011 at Spitalfields Market with an armful of boxers made from surplus shirt fabrics, Hales moved westward to Portobello Market. From upcycled underwear, he expanded into double-breasted waistcoats, Nehru jackets, grandad shirts and a British take on the Parisian workwear chore jacket. The brand works with creatives across the UK to design, manufacture and deliver their clothing, and partner with causes like Solar Aid & Sapling to plant trees and pave the way for sustainable futures. They put jokes on their ties to support the Global Penguin Society and team up with lo- cal artists to create one-of-a-kind prints. Whilst there isn’t enough surplus material to make every single piece of cloth- ing they sell, SIRPLUS has used some of the most exciting sustainable and organic fabrics. Crafted from 100% Tana Lawn™ cotton courtesy of Liber- ty Fabrics, SIRPLUS boxer shorts have artistically evolved since its inception ten years ago. The regular fit boxers have a stretch waistband, button fly and a gusset in the back de- signed for easy wear and an unparalleled silky and fluid feel thanks to the material used. The Liberty Fabrics consist of six artfully designed prints that will stimulate both your eyes and style preferences with some of the designs paired with a Liberty or cotton robe. Yellow Crayon Check Boxer Shorts have sketchy irregular stripes woven together into an energetic and animated ge- ometric print. Blue Aubrey Forest with a richly decorated Art Nouveau style botanical print shows a dense, stylised display of overlapping flowers and leaves, arranged in a subtle scal- loped repeated pattern. The Green Himuro Sky Boxer Shorts is a charming conversational design of a Japanese skyline fea- turing planes, umbrellas, flying fish and butterflies by artist Yuri Himuro. Another nod to Art Nouveau is the Yellow Aubrey Forest Boxer Shorts with a dense, stylised display of botanicals in a subtle scalloped repeat pattern. The classic Blue Patchwork with a signature straight fit is inspired by the heritage Lib- erty London haberdashery department and pays tribute to the artisan and craftsmanship of old. The Blue Shiomi Box- er Shorts feature the artwork of koi fishes jumping among crashing cascades by artist Nana Shiomi using the traditional Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock craft. For a simpler style, try SIRPLUS’ signature straight fit boxer shorts made from 100% cotton for crisp, cool wear. These feature Corozo nut buttons with the usual stretch waistband, button fly and gusset in a choice of White & Blue, Light Pur- ple, Pink Wide or Navy Striped; Pale Pink, Deep Pink or Blue Micro Checked; Red Dot, Blue House Print or Blue Stripe Cotton; and Red & Blue Geometric. The Liberty Fabrics and regular boxer shorts are also available in a two-pack gift box. One of SIRPLUS’ staple apparel is the Nehru jacket, cardigan, waistcoat and cashmere inspired by the Mandarin collar that originated from Imperial China and represented traditional Manchurian dress. The collar became a prevailing look for oriental and minimalist styles, which can be seen throughout decades of fashion. In the early 1900s, thanks to the fusion of Oriental and Indian tailoring, the Mandarin collar began its rise in Indian culture and wardrobes, and was originally known as the ‘closed neck coat’. Images courtesy of SIRPLUS SIRPLUS The Nehru Effect