Saint James
Knitted Breton shirts, Norman spinning mill since 1889
Philosophy
Norman manufacturer founded in 1889, specializing in maritime clothing - Breton shirts, wool sweaters, peacoats. Everything is made in Saint-James, Normandy. Living Heritage Company label.
History
1889, Saint-James, Normandy, a few kilometers from Mont-Saint-Michel. Leon Legallais founds the spinning mill to weave and dye local wool. The Breton shirt was just workwear for bay fishermen.
It would become a symbol of all France. Picasso wore it. Coco Chanel feminized it. Gaultier made it a fashion manifesto.
Today: 400 employees, 60M euros revenue (2023), 70% of activity on three icons - sailor sweaters, Breton shirts, peacoats. Everything still in the same place. Each garment passes through 18 pairs of hands. Smart collabs with French brands: Le Slip Francais, Atelier Tuffery, French Navy, the Elysee boutique. 'Hunt in packs' - collabs that strengthen made-in-France without diluting the brand. EPV since 2022.
Iconic Products
Mariniere Guildo
The original Breton shirt in combed cotton. Boat neck, classic stripes. Picasso, Chanel, Gaultier. France in a knit. On 애호가들: 'They invented it, perfected it, and keep producing very high quality examples of it for a great price.'
Pull marin authentique (laine vierge)
The real sailor sweater. Virgin wool, 1x1 rib, knitted in Normandy. Saint James is the official supplier to the French Navy - real sailors wear Saint James. Collar linking requires 18 months of training. Each sweater passes through 18 pairs of hands. On 애호가들: these get passed down.
Pull merinos
Merino wool sweater. Finer, softer than classic virgin wool, same Norman know-how. For those wanting the sailor sweater without the rustic feel. Knitted in Saint-James, like everything else.
Caban
Wool peacoat, double-breasted. Rivals Le Glazik for best French peacoat. Made in Saint-James.
Collabs (Marine Nationale, Elysee, Slip Francais..)
Capsule collections with French brands. Le Slip Francais, Atelier Tuffery, French Navy, the Elysee boutique, Le Parapluie de Cherbourg. CEO: 'Hunt in packs.' Collabs that strengthen made-in-France without diluting the brand. Always knitted in Saint-James.