johnsunter.com >> about >> sunter shirt
Sunter Shirt - Fat Face name an article of clothing after me !.
In April 2007, I did a tour of Egypt and Jordan (visiting the Pyramids, the Wadi Rum and Petra).
When the trip began in Cairo and I met everyone for the first time, we had our usual who had been where conversation.
I was astounded to hear that a girl there called Nicola Smith had been to 14 countries in the previous 12 months.
Turned out, that as well as enjoying travel, she was a fashion designer, and did several trips with her work to seek inspiration.
We became very good friends during the trip (she is the one in the middle of this picture) and I introduced her to her boyfriend Ben (on the left of the picture, they are still together).
After returning home, she sent me an email (voted number 1 in a lonely planet survey of the most useful technology inventions for travelers).
I was astounded to hear, that she had designed a rugged outdoor/military shirt and that its design and looks had actually been inspired by ME.
I couldn't believe it when she told me it was called the Sunter Shirt, and that the high street brand Fat Face would be distributing it throughout the UK.
I wondered for a moment, whether it was a practical joke but when I checked their web site, there it was.
The interesting thing, is that Fat Face, are more of a fashion label, and not strictly travel clothing.
For example, this Rohan shirt which I wore during a 9 day survival course in the Sahara Desert has all sorts of technical features, but is tough and rugged by necessity
I wondered how this look would transfer itself to the fashion market and It was hard for me to imagine loads of teenagers heading out for the evening wearing clothes inspired by me.
Here I am on Christmas Day wearing the Sunter Shirt which my wife bought me.
Nicola had superbly "fused" street cred with bushcraft looks.
Its slightly oversized, just the way I like it, has pockets for my hands and a chest pocket for my phone.
It can be worn on its own as a shirt, or as a jacket where layers underneath make it warm enough for every kind of climate.
So, what is it that makes it like me. Is it that its tough on the outside and soft on the inside or is it that it can last for weeks without being washed ?.
I have no idea, all I can I say is I am quite delighted and so proud, that as I write this article, I am speechless.
That doesn't happen very often.
