The iconic polo shirt created for Daniel Craig’s first Bond film has returned in a new limited-edition version made from one of the world’s most exclusive cotton fabrics.
Twenty years after the Riviera Polo was redesigned for Daniel Craig’s first appearance as James Bond in Casino Royale, Sunspel has announced a new limited-edition version made from Sea Island cotton.
Presented in the brand’s signature navy, the new edition celebrates both the modern Bond-era Riviera Polo and Sunspel’s longer history of British textile manufacturing and fabric innovation.
The origins of the Riviera Polo actually stretch back much further than Bond. Sunspel first developed the shirt in the 1950s after creating a lightweight cotton mesh fabric designed for hot weather on the French Riviera. The original design was created in 1955 by Peter Hill, the great-grandson of the company’s founder.
According to Sunspel, Hill engineered a breathable warp-knit cotton mesh intended to remain cool and comfortable in warmer climates. That fabric, with its slightly open structure and dry handle, still forms the basis of the Riviera Polo today.
The Bond connection came in 2006 during the production of Casino Royale. Working alongside Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming, Sunspel refined the original shirt into a more tailored silhouette for Daniel Craig’s debut as 007.
The revised version featured a slimmer fit, shorter sleeves and more athletic proportions, helping create one of the defining casual looks of the Craig era. The polo has remained part of Sunspel’s core collection ever since and is still closely associated with Casino Royale among Bond fans.
For this anniversary edition, Sunspel has retained that same silhouette while upgrading the fabric to Sea Island cotton — a material the company has worked with since the 19th century.
Sea Island cotton is widely regarded as one of the finest cottons in the world due to its exceptionally long staple fibres, which produce an unusually smooth, soft and durable fabric with a distinctive natural lustre.
The limited-edition Sea Island Cotton Riviera Polo became available online and in selected Sunspel stores from 5th May 2026, alongside the standard Riviera Polo that first appeared on Daniel Craig in Casino Royale nearly twenty years ago.
🛒 Riviera Polo in Sea Island Cotton
