Written by Menswear Style in Brands on the 4th February 2020

Although Besnard is new to most of the world, the brand has a rich heritage that dates back more than 140 years. With its roots in bespoke tailoring, Besnard aims to provide the same dedication to quality and craftsmanship seen all those years ago to its ready-to-wear collection today. In 1878, then twenty-eight-year-old Albert Besnard opened a small atelier near the Royal Palace in the centre of The Hague (La Haye). Over the years Besnard became known as the best place to buy bespoke suits and luxury clothing. Unfortunately, when A. Besnard retired after 40 years there was no successor to take over the company.

Fast-forward to 100 years later, and Victor Besnard – A. Besnard’s great-great-grandson – decided to revive the brand. “During my studies at university, I worked for a tailor and a luxury multi-brand store. There, I developed a passion for tailoring and classic menswear. So when I found a bespoke suit made by my great-great-grandfather in my parents' attic, it felt like my calling and I knew I wanted to continue his legacy”, Victor says. He further explains how reviving the brand a century later meant rethinking the brand’s purpose; “I wanted to develop a ready-to-wear collection, with the same level of quality and craftsmanship as tailoring”.

With this philosophy in mind, Victor launched a small ready-to-wear collection consisting of casual shirts, classic shirts and tailored trousers. Their designs are clearly influenced by classic menswear, but they have a contemporary flair. The men's trousers have a slightly higher rise, single pleats and feature side adjusters. The slight taper gives them a modern feel, meaning you can wear them stylishly with both crisp white sneakers and penny loafers. Another menswear piece that deserves your attention is their Oxford Cloth Button Down shirt (or O.C.B.D. in short), a true wardrobe staple worn by style icons such as Paul Newman and Michael Caine. The button down collar has a soft floating interlining, resulting in a generous collar roll.

Besnard shirts are crafted using traditional shirtmaking techniques and feature subtle details such as English seams. This type of seam is comfortable on the skin and holds its shape over time. This technique will take experienced seamstresses twice the time of a double needle stitched seam to finish this superior construction; it is a true sign of craftsmanship. Besnard clearly aims to offer timeless menswear of exceptional quality as is evidenced by their choice of materials. Their tailored trousers, for instance, are made from a fine British twill and feature real buffalo horn buttons. Fabrics are carefully selected from premium mills across Europe, albeit for their denim range which is sourced from one of the oldest and most renowned mills of Japan.

Introducing Besnard Heritage Menswear first born in The Hague, featuring shirts made from Japan Mills fabrics and revived by Victor Besnard 100 years later.