Introducing our highly anticipated collaboration with John Smedley – making a vintage inspired cotton polo shirt just in time for summer.

"I've been a huge fan of John Smedley for half my life and it gives me great pleasure to announce a collaboration between Malloch's x John Smedley"
– Chris

Chris used to wear vintage John Smedley polo shirts, both in cotton and merino on a regular basis, especially having a soft spot for the traditional long-point collar. It gives the garment that slightly classic character that offers timeless appeal as well as great versatility, wear it can be worn with tailoring or elevating a relaxed look.

About the Cromford Sea Island Cotton Polo Shirt

The Cromford Polo Shirt is based on one of Chris’ vintage Smedley polo shirts that features a fashioned collar and three-button placket with fisheye Corozo nut buttons. It’s made with a luxurious 30gg fine knit Sea Island Cotton that is spun by John Smedley at their factory in Matlock, England, which they’ve been doing since 1922. Sea Island Cotton, also known as “black seed” or “Gossypium barbadense” to give it its Latin name, is considered the highest grade cotton on the planet. It’s also the rarest, making up less than 0.0004% of the world's cotton production. It boasts a unique set of characteristics that include being breathable, hypoallergenic, and extremely soft against the skin – making it far superior to other cotton species, with the yarn being extra-long and super fine in texture.

We decided on using fisheye buttons, honouring a vintage Smedley polo shirt that we sampled from, that featured fisheye buttons. These buttons are made from Corozo nut by Courtney & Co, a wonderful independent British button maker based in Gloucestershire. 

The Cromford polo shirt is named after an adjacent village to the Smedley factory – a nod of respect to the polo shirt’s origin. 

Available in Navy, Khaki Green, Brown, French Navy, Light Grey, and White