Lonsdale (clothing)

Last updated

Lonsdale
Lonsdale-Logo.svg
Product type Sports equipment, clothing, footwear
Owner Frasers Group [1]
Country England
Introduced1960;64 years ago (1960)
by Bernard Hart
Related brands Everlast
Markets Boxing, mixed martial arts
Website lonsdale.com

Lonsdale is a British sports equipment, textile and footwear brand focused on boxing and mixed martial arts established in London in 1960. Former 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 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. As of 2020 the Lonsdale brand is owned and operated by Sports Direct owner the Frasers Group (formerly "Sports Direct International"). [1]

Contents

Products commercialised by Lonsdale include gloves, shorts, headguards, shin guards, hand wraps, jockstraps, punching bags, sneakers and boxing boots. The clothing line is composed of t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, leggings, shorts and underwear.

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. In 1960, business commenced for the brand at 21 Beak St., Soho, London. [3]

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. 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.

In the 1990s, Lonsdale expanded to new markets in Europe, and by 1998, the brand had expanded to Australia. In 2002 it was acquired by Sports Direct.

Lonsdale sponsorship on the jerseys of German football club Roter Stern Leipzig, March 2014 Rotersternleipzig spieler.png
Lonsdale sponsorship on the jerseys of German football club Roter Stern Leipzig, March 2014

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. As of 2007, a division of Lonsdale produces football kits for Brentford, Swindon Town and Millwall.

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 Jeffries in various boxing-related challenges. [4]

Mixed martial arts promotion BAMMA announced during mid July 2012, that they had renewed their partnership deal with Lonsdale as they move to Channel 5 in September. [5]

Notable fighters

The following fighters have worn Lonsdale clothing during bouts:

Controversy

In the early 2000s, the brand 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 initials of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei—the Nazi Party. [6] [7] [8] Wearing a brand with no Nazi links to express Nazi sympathies helped bypass strict laws concerning the public display of Nazi symbolism. [9] In the Netherlands, Belgium, northern France, Spain 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 and Germany. [6] [10]

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, emphasising non-white fashion models, along with increased support for initiatives that combat racism. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kickboxing</span> Full-contact hybrid martial art and combat sport

Kickboxing is a full-contact hybrid martial art and boxing type based on punching and kicking. Kickboxing originated in the 1950s to 1970s. The fight takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouth guards, shorts, and bare feet to favor the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general fitness, or for competition. Some styles of kickboxing include: full contact karate, Muay Thai, Japanese kickboxing, Lethwei, Sanda, and Savate.

Lonsdale may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everlast (brand)</span> American sporting goods equipment brand

Everlast is an American brand of sports equipment, focused on boxing, mixed martial arts and physical fitness, which markets its products worldwide. The company was founded in The Bronx and is currently based in Manhattan. In 2007, Everlast was acquired by the British retailing group Frasers Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale</span> English peer and sportsman

Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, was an English peer and sportsman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxing glove</span> Sports equipment worn by boxers

Boxing gloves are cushioned gloves that fighters wear on their hands during boxing matches and practices. Unlike "fist-load weapons" which were designed as a lethal weapon, modern boxing gloves are non-lethal, designed to protect both the opponent's head and the fighter's hand during a bout. Sparring and other forms of boxing training have their own specialized gloves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonsdale Belt</span> British boxing award

The Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt, commonly known as the Lonsdale Belt, is the oldest championship belt in British professional boxing. The 5th Earl of Lonsdale introduced the prize on behalf of the National Sporting Club (NSC), intending it to be awarded to British boxing champions. Arthur Frederick Bettinson, manager of the NSC, introduced terms and conditions regarding the holding of the belt, which ensured its lasting prestige. Freddie Welsh earned the first Lonsdale Belt in 1909 after winning the NSC British Lightweight title. Heavyweight Henry Cooper was the first and only boxer to win three Lonsdale Belts. In 1929 the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) assumed responsibility for awarding the belt, which continues to be bestowed on British champions.

Robin Reid is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2012. He held the WBC super-middleweight title from 1996 to 1997, and the IBO super-middleweight title from 2004 to 2005. As an amateur, Reid represented Great Britain at 1992 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the light-middleweight division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Froch</span> English boxer

Carl Martin Froch, is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2014, and has since worked as a boxing analyst and commentator. He held multiple super-middleweight world championships, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) title twice between 2008 and 2011, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title from 2012 to 2015, and the World Boxing Association (WBA) title between 2013 and 2015. At regional level, he held the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles between 2004 and 2008, and won the Lonsdale Belt in 2006. As an amateur, in the middleweight division, Froch won a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships, and the ABA title twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sportswear</span> Equipment and attire for physical activity

Sportswear or activewear is athletic clothing, including footwear, worn for sports activity or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and physical exercise, for practical, comfort or safety reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fight Network</span> Canadian television channel dedicated to combat sports

Fight Network is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment. The network broadcasts programming related to combat sports, including mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, and professional wrestling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Errol Christie</span> British boxer and boxing trainer (1963–2017)

Errol Christie was an English professional boxer and boxing trainer. He was the captain of the English amateur boxing team from 1980 to 1983 and European amateur champion in 1983. After turning professional he was a regular fixture on ITV Fight Night in the 1980s. After retiring from boxing he became a trainer in white-collar boxing.

Affliction Clothing is an American clothing manufacturer and retailer based in Seal Beach, California. It was launched in 2005 by Courtney Dubar and partners, and is now owned by Affliction Holdings LLC. The company offers a wide range of products, including t-shirts, hoodies, swimwear, headwear, and watches.

MMA clothing refers to the sportswear worn in mixed martial arts (MMA) competition and training, and branded fashion clothing related to the mixed martial arts scene. As MMA becomes a mature sport, brands dedicated to it have worked toward specializing clothing that improve an MMA athlete's training and competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Groves (boxer)</span> British boxer

George Groves is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2018. He held the WBA (Super) super-middleweight title from 2017 to 2018. At regional level, he held multiple super-middleweight titles, including the European, British, and Commonwealth titles between 2010 and 2014. As an amateur, Groves won the ABA middleweight title twice in 2007 and 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAMMA</span> Defunct UK-based MMA promotion

BAMMA (British Association of Mixed Martial Arts) was a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United Kingdom. It premiered on June 27, 2009, and was shown on the television channel Bravo. BAMMA events were shown live on ITV4 in the UK and Ireland, KIX in Asia (in Indonesia aired on tvOne), VEQTA Digital Broadcast Sports Network in India, Kwesé Sports in Africa, DAZN in Germany & Russia, FITE TV and UNILAD (Online). BAMMA events stream live on the UNILAD Facebook Page (Prelims) and ITV4 (UK) & Fite.tv (US) (Main Card). BAMMA 29 was shown on free to air channel Dave, and BAMMA 30 was also shown there on 7 July 2017 as was BAMMA 31. BAMMA 33 was shown on ITV4 on December 15 2017. The last BAMMA event was held in London on June 28, 2018.

Tony Dodson is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2016. He held the British super middleweight title in 2003, and challenged for the Commonwealth super middleweight title in 2006 and the light heavyweight title in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ana Julaton</span> American female boxer and mixed martial arts fighter

Luciana Bonifacio Julaton is an American former professional boxer and mixed martial artist. She was the first to win the Women's WBO Super Bantamweight and IBA Super Bantamweight titles. Nicknamed "The Hurricane", she is also one of the quickest boxers ever to win a world title, having fought just five previous professional bouts before winning the IBA Super Bantamweight title.

Six Deuce is a global sporting goods and fitness apparel company. Founded in 2005, the company is based in Ames, Iowa and Helsingborg, Sweden.

Revgear is an American company that encompasses innovative designs, development, manufacturing, worldwide marketing and sales of martial arts supplies, equipment, apparel, and services. The company is headquartered in Van Nuys, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, with over 21 years experience of being a leading supplier of martial arts supplies and equipment to martial arts schools, organizations, and direct consumers.

References

  1. 1 2 Lonsdale (clothing) on Sports Direct Int., retrieved 29 September 2020
  2. ↑ Bernard Hart – Boxer Box Rec. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  3. ↑ History on Truestore
  4. ↑ Happy 50th Birthday Lonsdale Archived 15 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine URN. Retrieved 10 May 2010
  5. ↑ "BAMMA announced renewed partnership with Lonsdale". fullmount.co.uk. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 Asthana, Anushka (9 April 2005). "Neo-Nazi teenagers fight in British boxing's No 1 brand". The Times . London. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  7. ↑ Cleaver, Hannah (22 February 2001). "German Nazis' dress code angers British firm". The Daily Telegraph . London. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  8. ↑ Paterson, Tony (22 March 2006). "Lonsdale faces ban over 'neo-Nazi associations'". The Independent . London. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008.
  9. ↑ "Thor Steinar and the Changing Look of the German Far Right". Der SpiegelPENE. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  10. 1 2 "Branded youths". Daily News. 7 February 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2010. Archived at on 30 August 2005.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.