Lonsdale (clothing)
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sporting goods, Clothing |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters | Shirebrook, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Key people | Bernard Hart (founder) |
| Products | Boxing equipment and related apparel |
| Website | http://www.lonsdale.com |
Lonsdale is a boxing and clothing brand that was founded in London, England in 1960. Ex-boxer Bernard Hart started the brand as a boxing equipment company, but it eventually branched out into clothing as well. The company is named after Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, who in 1891 set up the first organised boxing matches with gloves, following the deaths of three boxers in bare knuckle fights.[1] It is now owned by Sports Direct.
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[edit] History
In 1959, former professional welterweight boxer Bernard Hart[2] was granted permission to use the Lonsdale name by James Lowther, 7th Earl of Lonsdale[3] In 1960, business commenced for the brand at 21 Beak St., Soho, London.[4]
Lonsdale became ingrained into 1960s popular fashion due to its location near Carnaby Street. Celebrities who publicly wore the brand included Paul McCartney, Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn and Tony Curtis.[5] In 1979, mod revival icon Paul Weller visited the store and bought Lonsdale T-shirts to wear on a tour of Japan, which led to an increase in sales for the brand in both the UK and Asia.[6]
In the 1990s, Lonsdale expanded to new markets in Europe, and by 1998, the brand had expanded to Australia.[7] As of 2002, it became an acquisition of Sports Direct.[8]
In the early 2000s, Lonsdale clothing became popular among some European neo-Nazis, allegedly because a carefully placed outer jacket leaves only the letters NSDA showing; one letter short of NSDAP, the acronym for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, the German name of the Nazi Party.[9][10][11] Wearing a brand with no Nazi links in order to express Nazi sympathies helped bypass strict laws concerning the public display of Nazi symbolism.[12] In the Netherlands, Belgium, northern France and Germany, the term Lonsdale youth became widely used to describe teenagers with far right tendencies, and the brand was banned from certain schools in the Netherlands.[13][14][15]
Lonsdale reacted to this trend by sponsoring anti-racist events and campaigns, and by refusing to deliver products to known neo-Nazi retailers. In 2003, the "Lonsdale Loves All Colours" campaign was launched, emphasizing non-white fashion models, along with increased support for initiatives that combat racism.[16]
During the 2005-06 English football season, Lonsdale was the kit provider for Blackburn Rovers Football Club. In 2006, Lonsdale stores opened in Singapore, Taiwan and other parts of Asia.[17] As of 2007[update], a division of Lonsdale produces football kits for Brentford, Swindon Town and Millwall. In 2008, Lonsdale were the official clothing suppliers to the Sydney Roosters Rugby League club in Australia.
On 25 March 2010, Lonsdale celebrated the 50th anniversary of the brand by holding the Lonsdale Challenge at the Liberty Boxing Gym in Nottingham, England. The event featured Lonsdale-sponsored boxers Carl Froch, James DeGale and Tony Jefferies in various boxing-related challenges.[18]
[edit] Associated fighters
The following fighters have worn Lonsdale clothing during bouts:
- Muhammad Ali[19][20]
- Joe Calzaghe[21]
- Henry Cooper[22][23]
- James DeGale[24]
- Carl Froch[25]
- Audley Harrison[26]
- Jonathan Oakey[27]
- Ricky Hatton[28]
- Tony Jeffries[29]
- Lennox Lewis[30]
- Brian London.[31]
- Ryan Rhodes[32]
- Sugar Ray Robinson[33]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "The History Of Lonsdale Boxing". Boxfit UK Ltd.. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
- ^ Bernard Hart - Boxer Box Rec. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
- ^ The History Of Lonsdale Boxing
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
- ^ "The History Of Lonsdale Boxing". Boxfit UK Ltd.. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
- ^ Overview Sports Direct
- ^ Asthana, Anushka (9 April 2005). "Neo-Nazi teenagers fight in British boxing's No 1 brand". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article379031.ece. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ Cleaver, Hannah (22 February 2001). "German Nazis' dress code angers British firm". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/1323701/German-Nazis-dress-code-angers-British-firm.html. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ Paterson, Tony (22 March 2006). "Lonsdale faces ban over 'neo-Nazi associations'". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/lonsdale-faces-ban-over-neonazi-associations-470862.html. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ "Thor Steinar and the Changing Look of the German Far Right". Spiegel Onlne. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ Dutch politician calls 'Lonsdale youth' a potential time bomb
- ^ Asthana, Anushka (9 April 2005). "Neo-Nazi teenagers fight in British boxing's No 1 brand". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article379031.ece. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ^ "Branded youths". Daily News. 7 February 2005. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ "Branded youths". Daily News. 7 February 2005. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
- ^ Happy 50th Birthday Lonsdale URN. Retrieved 2010-05-10
- ^ http://www.boksnieuws.com/Boksnieuws_Ali-65.htm
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
- ^ The Sun (London). http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00388/Joe_Calzaghe_388272a.jpg.
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/image_galleries/boxing_fights_gallery.shtml?2
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
- ^ http://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/images/LonsdaleDeGale.gif
- ^ http://www.cobraboxing.com/gallery/froch_v_andre_dirrell
- ^ http://www.konews.net/web_images/audley-harrison.jpg
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 30-07-11.
- ^ http://www.mkrob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/hatton.jpg
- ^ The Sun (London). http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01007/froch_682x400_1007060a.jpg.
- ^ http://www.truestore.eu/truestore/images/lonsdale/lennox.jpg
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
- ^ http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02qa0aObmgaCB/610x.jpg
- ^ History of Lonsdale Lonsdale London Australia. Retrieved 28-04-10.
