THE CREWNECK T-SHIRT

We trace its origins, explore why it has endured for more than a century, and return to the water to understand what makes it timeless.

The crewneck T-Shirt is a classic for a reason. In the early 1900s, rowers began wearing collarless, round-neck jerseys to allow complete freedom of movement. The design broke the mould by prioritising performance over tradition. What began as a practical solution became an enduring symbol of purposeful design — giving rise to the term “crewneck”.

That same spirit defines our Midweight T-Shirt. To honour its origins, we partnered with Stockholm’s academic rowing club on the edge of Brunnsviken Lake.

At 6:00 am, the sky is still pitch black as the crew arrive for their morning session. Inside the hall, dressed in white crewnecks, they warm up in silence — stretching, swinging their legs in a pendulum motion. “It’s funny,” one of them says, smiling. “Our coach used to call rowing ‘ballet in boats’.”

Everybody chimes in as the line-up is debated. Who takes the bow. Who sits stroke. Banter, then focus. Down in the boat hall, they assemble in formation. At the command of their coxswain, Greg, the crew lift the shell in seamless unison.“Over heads and… go. To shoulders. Go.”

Outside, as dawn breaks, the boat departs from the dock. Oars cut into the water in perfect rhythm as eight bodies in white move as one, illuminating the pitch-black lake.

More than a century has passed since rowers first wore the collarless jersey. Today, boats are lighter. Training is more technical. Fabrics more advanced. Yet the fundamentals persist. Out on the water, the feeling of freedom remains.

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