From the start of kapok, we always considered presenting the Saint-James collection as we really love the timeless, classic and quintessentially French design of their striped tees and sweater. Then last winter, two events made the choice of Saint-James unavoidable : we received a wonderful Saint-James sweater as Christmas gift, and our friend and fashion adviser Dominic recommended we carry the brand. We placed our first order of a selection of striped tees, and Saint-James immediately found many fans amongst kapok customers. We have now just received the Fall winter selection, but in the meantime, Saint-James references pop-up everywhere we look :
In Coco before Chanel, Audrey Tautou as Coco Channel discovers a more relaxed casual approach to fashion and cannot stop wearing her Saint-James striped tee after discovering it worn by fishermen on the Atlantic Coast. She even creates a more feminine look by accessorising the tee-shirt with a ribbon as a belt.
And even now, Saint James strikes a chord with major fashion designers. The creative force between Comme des Garconsmenswear Junya Watanabe has recently collaborated with the Breton brand. And not else than German-in-Paris designer diva Karl Lagerfeld was recently photographed in Saint-James.
Saint James has also reached Hollywood, as Gwyneth Paltrow is recommending Saint James in her Goop blog and newsletter. "The classic French t-shirt always looks right in spring year after year. This one by St. James is as authentic as it comes."
Saint James fall/winter collection is now in store in kapok. In addition to the stripped tee-shirts, we have added Saint-James classic breton sweaters. The origins of the fisherman’s sweater are to be found in Brittany. It is from there that merchants left during the 18th century to travel to England for the sale of their onions.
These merchants wore an item of clothing that made them recognizable from a distance : a striped sweater. The sweater was made in a very tight stitching, using a secret stitch which granted to clothing warmth, water proofing, and considerable resistance to both the wind and cold. With such thick tight stitching, knitted very close to the body, this sweater became "the second skin of seafarers".The Saint-James Company was established in Lower Normandy, in the commune of Saint-James, close to Mont Saint-Michel, since 1889. Originally producing woollen underwear, they soon became the world's most famous source of the classic Breton fisherman's sweater.
