The In Crowd

Not a label that was a part of the look during the explosion of the original mod youth cult during the mid-60's (as far as I'm aware), Lonsdale tops became a staple wardrobe item for members of the late 70's/early 80's mod revival when pop-punk icon Paul Weller, later dubbed "The Modfather," and his band The Jam (right) began to wear this British boxingwear line.

Remembering how young neophytes like myself coveted this brand because of Weller's influence, it's sad to now read the following from The Times (London):

"LONSDALE, the British sportswear label made famous by boxers and Eighties pop stars, faces creeping bans across the Netherlands because racist gangs have taken to wearing the brand.

Nightclubs and bars are refusing entry to people wearing the label, it is forbidden in some schools and a town in the south of the country is proposing a blanket ban after a series of race-hate crimes.

In the past week, a Muslim primary school in the town of Uden was subjected to its second arson attack. Witnesses said that teenagers involved were wearing Lonsdale tops. Civic leaders have announced plans to ban the label in the town.

The term “Lonsdale youth” has become a widely used synonym for teenagers with extreme right-wing tendencies. A website, Lonsdalenews, has been set up to track racist incidents.

Right-wing extremists like tops bearing the Lonsdale logo, because a carefully placed bomber jacket can leave only the letters NSDA showing, one letter short of NSDAP, the acronym for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, Hitler’s National Socialist Party.

In an attempt to reclaim its image, the Lonsdale company, which is based in London, has begun a publicity campaign in the Netherlands with the slogan “Lonsdale loves all colours”. "

Click here to read the full article "Neo-Nazi teenagers fight in British boxing's No 1 brand." (via Agenda, Inc.)

I was always curious as to what relation Lonsdale had with American boxing clothing company Everlast since they basically bit their logo design too?