Although the rugby shirt has been around for more than 200 years, it wasn’t until the middle of the last century that it began to be worn off the pitch. Much like the varsity jacket, it was quickly adopted by students at Ivy league institutions in the U.S., and quickly gained status as an American sportswear icon.
GANT, creative director Christopher Bastin shares, was one of the first fashion brands that took the rugby shirt off the field and made it into a fashion staple.
— When we launched the Rugger line in the early 1970s it became so successful, that in just a few years it counted for approximately 30-40% of the brand’s entire production, he says.
Many decades later, the Heavy Rugger continues to be a key piece for the brand each season. Continuing the work of the brand’s 7 Rules sustainability initiative (Refresh, Repair, Reuse, Rent, Regive, Remake, and Recycle, introduced last year aiming to make customers take joint responsibility in extending the life of their clothes), GANT now presents Remake — a capsule collection of the upcycled Heavy Rugger. It consists of three upcycled styles of the classic rugby shirt silhouette and one upcycled style as a dress. Made from leftover fabrics from previous collections, the limited-edition range features bold colors and stripes that give a striking, preppy look.
— It’s really something special that nearly 50 years later the Heavy Rugger can be transformed once more using leftover fabrics from previous generations of this beloved classic, says Bastin.
