Le Minor : the Breton stripe top and the fisherman’s sweater from Brittany
The Le Minor page brings together the Breton house of marine clothing: striped sweaters with a round neck, plain or striped Andy t-shirts, and watch caps. These pieces are knitted in its workshops in Guidel, inheriting a know-how born on the coasts of Morbihan and Finistère.
Le Minor, a Breton story
The story of Le Minor is shared between Lorient, where a knitwear factory was established in the 1920s, and Pont-l'Abbé, where Marie-Anne Le Minor developed her own workshop. Both ventures later came together in Guidel, in Morbihan, where the brand continues to make its clothing.
It specialises in marine jumpers, striped shirts, and sea clothing.
The striped shirt, a sailor's clothing
Breton sailors already wore striped shirts long before a decree in 1858 required national navy sailors to wear blue and white striped shirts. The striped shirt thus transitioned from uniform to everyday wear for everyone.
The round-neck striped jumper
The round-neck jumper from Le Minor features the stripes of the striped shirt in a thicker knit. It can be worn alone in mid-season, or under a peacoat or coat in winter.
The Andy t-shirts
The Andy comes in solid and striped versions. A simple t-shirt that goes well with jeans, chinos, or shorts in summer.
The watch cap
The watch cap gets its name from the watch systems of sailors, the shifts, during which it offered protection from wind and cold. In ribbed knit, it is worn short, above the ears, or rolled down.
Assemble a marine outfit
- Classic: striped jumper, raw denim jeans, boat shoes.
- Summer: striped Andy t-shirt, canvas shorts.
- Winter: marine jumper, peacoat, watch cap.
Made in Brittany
Clothing from Le Minor is made in the brand's workshops in Guidel, using techniques passed down for decades. A French production that is becoming rare in knitwear.
Choosing your size
A marine jumper should fit snugly or be slightly loose. If you plan to layer it over a shirt, take a size that allows for some ease at the shoulders.
Care
Wash the jumper in cold water, using a wool cycle or by hand, and lay it flat to dry so it retains its shape. Cotton t-shirts can be washed at 30 degrees, turned inside out.
See also
For more marine-inspired pieces, check out the page Fred Perry and the section men's jumpers. Other brands are in the men's clothing by brand.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Le Minor clothes made?
In the brand's workshops in Guidel, Brittany.
Where does the striped shirt come from?
From the striped shirts of Breton sailors, made mandatory for the national navy in 1858.
What is a watch cap?
A sailor's cap, worn during the shifts called "quarts."
How to wash a marine jumper?
In cold water, on a wool cycle or by hand, and dried flat.
