For The Love Of Shirts
When Ignatius Joseph started his shirt company in 1997, he already had a long journey in the international hospitality business behind him. And while he liked his job, he still decided to pursue his passion for elegant menswear and especially for beautiful shirts. From the very beginning it was clear to the man who was born in Sri Lanka and who came to Europe over 40 years ago that his shirts will have to be handmade in Italy as this is simply the spiritual and material birthplace of artisan shirt making. There he would find the people who have the tradition and skills needed to make luxury shirts as he had them in his mind.
IGN. Joseph shirts are handmade by shirt makers who pass their skills down from generation to generation. The shirts feature hand-sewn non-fused collars, instead of the fused collars prevalent even by many high-end shirt brands. Hand-sewn collars are softer and more flexible while pasted collars are more stable and often chosen by the ones who prefer the stricter business attire the British made popular. However, it is more difficult and time consuming to make a hand-sewn collar. Therefore you need artisans with years of experience. Additionally, IGN. Joseph shirts only use the finest Egyptian cotton and thick mother of pearl buttons for better durability and luxurious feel, and deliver them in bright yellow gift boxes.
Another distinctive feature are vibrant but never exaggerated colours. Vivid but still wearable in any business environment. Colourful, in both classic and interesting, new patterns. This is why Mr. Joseph chooses fabrics that are lively but still have robust colours that fit in the boardroom as well as on a Sunday walk.
Therefore, it is not surprising that colours play an important role in the life of this sartorial globetrotter, especially the colour red. For quite some time now, his hand-made, muted red shoes in combination with red over the calf socks have become something of a trademark. But this is more than just a visual statement. Mr Joseph pays homage to his time as a child in Sri Lanka when he used to paint his white Cricket shoes in red in order to make them appear more elegant. Something his father disliked but gave the young Ignatius pure satisfaction.
IGN. Joseph shirts and ties are available through selected stores in London, Paris, Oslo, and Brussels and are recognized globally in Korea, Japan and the U.S.