Essentials: Shipyard Chic
Matthew Esposito
06/01/2007

For many years, both the sea and the world of fashion have had a mutually beneficial love affair—the sea inspiring clothing reminiscent of its beauty, though functional enough to weather its nature, and in turn the fashion world looking for motivation from the moods, conditions and emotions derived from life on the ocean.

1. Henri-Lloyd’s Women’s Team Jacket is warm and windproof. 2. The Deep V vest from Pershing is made of windstopping "Denver nylon". (Click images to enlarge) 

Indeed the yachting or sailing "look" has always been in vogue, from cutting-edge technical gear to haute couture designs. And, often, high-end fashion houses such as Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo seem to find themselves intertwined with sailing and yacht racing. In the case of the former, Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli backed the Luna Rossa team for the America’s Cup and developed a wonderful, functional and fashionable line of clothing for his crew that also sold in boutiques. (Had my own pair of Prada deck shoes from this line not become a favorite chew toy for a certain yellow lab, I would still be enjoying them today!) For Ferragamo, the association is less direct. Leonardo Ferragamo, son of Italian luxury clothing entrepreneur Salvatore Ferragamo, helms the pedigreed sailing yacht manufacturer Nautor’s Swan, which has chosen Henri-Lloyd and Jibeset to produce clothing for its clients.

3. Pershing’s Cruiser jacket is available for men and women.  4. The oversize Bay scarf from Jibeset is available through the Nautor’s Swan Boutique. (Click images to enlarge) 

In perhaps one of the more literal demonstrations of this relationship, a handful of luxury yacht manufacturers have gone one step further, creating lines of clothing branded under their own names. Witness Italian shipyards Pershing and Riva. It can be no coincidence that this trend seems to be dominated by the Italians. Who better?

5. The Range pullover from Pershing. 6. Pershing’s Big One pants are ergonomically cut. (Click images to enlarge)

Pershing, which crafts a line of sleek and sexy sport and open yachts up to 115 feet, boasts the most comprehensive collection. Together with well-known clothing manufacturer Murphy&Nye, Pershing has created the Murphy&Nye Power collection with new jackets, knits and trousers for both him and her in their fall/winter collection and more seasonable choices for spring and summer. All the garments present a clean-cut style and combine advanced, high-tech fabrics with sophisticated styling. The color palette has been specially derived for Pershing in gray, off-white, orange and navy.

One of Pershing’s most recent and stylish designs is the Cruiser jacket. Available in white or navy, the tailored pea coat is made of blended wool and polyester knit cloth—a compact, water-resistant, windproof and durable fabric. The jacket is finished with classic, rustproof, stainless steel buttons, zip-close front pockets and the Pershing logo printed in reflective material on the back of the collar. The entire sporty range of sweaters, trousers, knit shirts, jackets and more is well designed and offers something unique for owners or crew.

7. Riva’s stylish Prova jacket for men. 8. The Prova jacket for women. (Click images to enlarge)

Known for producing vessels up to 115 feet, Riva has entered the clothing business as well, presenting its first collection for 2007/2008 at the Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence, Italy—one of the world’s premier fashion events. This shipyard, whose runabouts made their mark half a century ago on the shores of Lake Como and the Mediterranean, has designed a bespoke 14-piece collection for man and woman. Presented in white and navy blue only, with unique buttons and exclusively made labels, the line combines luxurious cashmere with innovative waterproof nylon and cotton, all realized in the Neapolitan sartorial tradition of fine tailoring. Geared toward the more elegant and leisurely aspects of yachting, items include a belted, thigh-length overcoat and handsome blazers.

Nautor’s Swan, which does not brand the clothing it offers at its ClubSwan Boutique, has partnered with Henri-Lloyd and Jibeset. Though there is no Swan logo associated with these items, the company does encourage owners to mark their gear with yacht class (as in Swan 45) and/or yacht name. Henri-Lloyd offers classic knit shirts, chinos, foul-weather gear, jackets and high-tech windbreakers for him and her, as well as a sampling of deck shoes. From Jibeset comes an original line of high-tech cashmere that blends natural cashmere and silk fibers with performance windproof and waterproof fabrics. We have it from a source at Swan that these garments are not only great for sailing, but skiing as well. Scarves, hooded sweaters, pullovers, jackets and vests are available from Jibeset in a range of colors.

For more information, visit www.nautorswanboutique.com, www.riva-yacht.com and www.pershing-yacht.com.