The first in the series of limited edition “Legend” sweaters by Slazenger Heritage Gold was produced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the classic James Bond film, “Goldfinger”, which starred Sean Connery as 007.
Sinclair dressed Connery for all of his appearances as the world’s favourite secret agent, from Dr. No in 1962 to Diamonds Are Forever in 1971, but for many, Goldfinger remains the quintessential Bond movie and arguably the most stylish.
The film includes a famous golf match between Bond and his nemesis, Auric Goldfinger, in which Connery is dressed in slim dark trousers by Anthony Sinclair, paired with the iconic, burgundy V-neck sweater by Slazenger, bearing the distinctive panther logo that was originally devised in 1963, the year before the movie was produced.
The film began a lifelong love of the game for Sean Connery and he went on to play at every available moment. He also continued to wear Slazenger V-neck sweaters, with light grey marl being a favoured colour.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the sweater was not only worn by spies, movie stars and amateur golfers, it became the knitwear of choice for professionals, making regular appearances at the world’s oldest tournament, the British Open Championship.
During the 1966 Open in Muirfield, golfing legend Jack Nicklaus wore a black Slazenger jumper during the early rounds of the tournament, switching to sky-blue on the final day as he went on to win the famous Claret Jug trophy.
The panther logo continued to appear on the V-neck sweaters of Open winners in subsequent years. In 1973, Tom Weiskopf was victorious at Royal Troon in charcoal, followed in 1975 by Tom Watson at Carnoustie, who wore mid-blue.
A year later, Johnny Miller, in red, collected the winning prize at Royal Birkdale, ahead of the joint second placed Jack Nicklaus and a 19 year-old Spanish boy called Seve Ballesteros – who returned in 1979 to raise the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham, wearing the renowned navy-blue version of the fabled V-neck.
The Slazenger “Legend” series has been created in a number of limited edition colours to pay tribute to the legendary figures who wore them. The sweaters have been beautifully styled in the finest Merino wool and carry the authentic period logo that was first seen in 1963.
Anthony Sinclair now offer the Slazenger “Legend” Sweater in a range of eight colours, including the original burgundy.
