THE STANLEY BIGGS ADVENTURE

from The Chap Issue 109

by thechap

DAVID DEVANT & HIS SPIRIT WIFE

Photoshoot

Digby Fairfax explains why Stanley Biggs is the right choice for those in search of rugged clothing for adventures in the great British outdoors

Photography: First set: Joe Hall. Second set: Harry Renton Models: Thomas Powell, Alice O'Shea, Jake Smithies

WWW.STANLEYBIGGS.CO.UK @STANLEYBIGGSCLOTHIERS

s golden autumnal hues and crisp,

Aclean air settles across the Northern Hemisphere, now is the time to enjoy the luxurious new clothing from Stanley Biggs Clothiers. With a revered and established collection, carefully crafted and created for longevity, Stanley Biggs has directed the same efforts and attention to detail that have defined the brand to expand their collection of clothing. The Biggs Collection now offers a wonderful range of footwear, accessories and trousers alongside their existing range of knitwear, scarves, and caps.

From leather boots, hand-made in The Peak District, to striking wide-leg trousers, made using the finest British wool and buttons, it is reassuring to see that Stanley Biggs Clothiers continue to collaborate with only the finest makers Britain has to offer. Furthermore, the brand is made for everyone and every occasion, no matter your style, gender or location. From an adventure that pushes your limits, to a social engagement in town, the versatility of the collection exudes a natural elán that will heighten any experience.

History runs through the core of the brand, starting with the name. Born in London in 1919, Stanley Douglas Biggs joined up to serve at the beginning of the Second World War, as a medical orderly in the 181st Airlanding Field Ambulance Unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps. His unit would go on to take part in the Battle of Arnhem during the ill-fated Operation Market Garden in September 1944. On 25th September 1944, Private Biggs lost his life when a stray shell hit another hotel where he and other injured soldiers were holed up during a barrage of the Oosterbeek Perimeter.

Stanley Biggs is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek Airborne Cemetery in the Netherlands, and it was here that Sophie Bainbridge, founder of the brand, looked up her great grandmother’s name, Biggs, and pieced together the story of her heroic ancestor, after whom she named her company.

The Biggs knitwear range, made in England from 100% British wool, is a speciality of the Biggs brand. A Chap favourite from their archive is the marvellously two-toned ‘Hannay’ roll-neck. Named after the protagonist of John Buchan’s The ThirtyNine Steps, Major General Sir Richard Hannay, the natural grey and Celtic green tones evoke images of the landscape of Britain described in the book, and as seen in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 adaptation. The jumper features a high waistband and can be worn long (ideally tucked into breeks) or rolled

up to double down on the insulating properties of 100% British wool.

The design, development and manufacture of each woollen jumper embraces a network and history that reaches back thousands of years and spans the length and breadth of the British Isles. As they continue to add to this expanding range of knitwear, The Chap has been granted exclusive access to one of their new additions, The Loxley Rollneck, inspired by one of the most famous fictional outlaws of Northern England, Robin Hood.

Stanley Biggs is situated only a few miles east of the great Sherwood Forest, the legendary hideout for Robin and his Merry Men, and it was from the explorations of this forest and the history of Robin of Loxley that the rollneck was inspired. The deep and rich forest green rollneck, finished with golden hoops on the neck, cuffs and waistband, harks back to a favourite era for the brand: the 1930s.

As with all items in The Biggs Collection, The Loxley Rollneck went through rigorous testing before it ended up as the finished product. One such adventure saw the Biggs team head into The Peak District to capture a unique experience: Alport Castles at sunset. The stunning results of this photographic expedition are displayed over these pages.

The brand can be summed up in the words of its founder, Sophie Bainbridge: “We want to capture a bygone era but in our own ‘Stanley Biggs’ way. There are a lot of influences in there and we are proud to be a heritage brand, but this collection has been carefully curated to be worn comfortably and with versatility in mind for the modern-day man (or lady).”

So, if you are looking toward your next adventure, take Stanley Biggs along for the ride and share your experiences. n