What initially inspired the start of Berkeley Shirts?
The start of the brand was inspired by a great passion for shirt making and a devotion to quality garments. As menswear gradually has become more relaxed and comfortable over the last few year we thought it was time to start a shirt brand embracing that change.
What have been the hardest obstacles to overcome in the creation of Berkeley Shirts?
If I have to mention two I’d definitely say marketing and product development. Marketing wise it’s always a challenge as a new brand to find your audience and to build a following of repeat customers. It’s all about making noise out there and to make ourselves heard. Since no one knows us from before, no one actively search for us or have a relationship or associations with Berkeley as a brand. We’ve slowly building that and have absolutely gotten of to a great start. Regarding product development, a shirt might be just a shirt, but it’s a lot of hard work that goes into finding those lovely fabric, the right fit and the right design. We’ve tested, altered and tested again more times than I can remember.
A shirt might be just a shirt, but it’s a lot of hard work that goes into finding those lovely fabric, the right fit and the right design. We’ve tested, altered and tested again more times than I can remember.
I love your quote “Making a shirt is much like composing a tasty dish. Without quality ingredients, the end result is rarely any good.” Tell us how do you approach the design and creation of a new shirt.
Our approach to creating a shirt is to always start with the basic ingredient – essentially the quality of the raw material that is used. That is what dictates the outcome of the final product and is not, in any way, something that we compromise on.
What makes your shirts timeless?
Timelessness sure is a wide description of a garment but to us it means shirts that doesn’t follow trends. Shirts that doesn’t go out of fashion due to strange fits or extravagant patterns just because that’s not “the latest thing” anymore. The ambition is that a shirt from us can be worn today just as well as 20 years from now. That it can be passed down from father to son and maybe even from grandfather to grandson. Shirts that stand the test of time both in regards to quality and design.
The ambition is that a shirt from us can be worn today just as well as 20 years from now. That it can be passed down from father to son and maybe even from grandfather to grandson.
Your most famous product is “The White Selvage Denim Shirt”, a Smart Casual interpretation of the white shirt. What makes this shirt unique?
The idea of the White Selvage Denim was actually sprung from a search for just that, a white selvage denim shirt. When we couldn’t find one we decided to make it ourselves. It’s unique in the sense that it’s made on an old Japanese shuttle loom giving it that distinct characterizing surface and touch. We don’t know anyone else who’s used that kind of fabric for a shirt like ours. In our eyes it’s also the very embodiment of a smart casual shirt. It perfectly bridges that gap between business and casual making it versatile like few other shirts.
What’s your definition of “Smart Casual”?
A style bridging the gap between business and casual. Versatile, elegant and sophisticated.
Discover more about Berkeley Shirts, visit their website berkeleyshirts.com
