Part 7 - Fred Perry (Subcultures) x
"I was genuinely regarded as the best dressed player of my time".
"I'm a great believer in trying to look the part - It's a fetish of mine". x
Born in 1909, on the 18th of May, John Frederick Perry ("Fred" Perry) began his formative years in Portwood, Stockport, followed by Bolton and Wallasey.
His Father, Samuel (R.I.P.) - 1877-1954) was a Cotton Spinner, on top of being involved with Politics, after World War I, as the 1st National Secretary of The Co-operative Party.
This is when an 11 year old Fred moved to London, via his Dad's engagements.
In Ealing, he would go on to study, as well as having access to the public tennis courts/cricket pitch et al, from an early age, at The Brentham Club (established 1911), where Fred featured for 16 years (1919 - 1935).
In 2011, a plaque was fitted to commerate this.
He began to develop what is now known as his famous/signature Handshake Style, with extraordinary dexterity and speed, starting out his career as a Table Tennis player (singles/doubles/team - World Championship, 1928/1929).
He then went on to play Lawn Tennis; being sent to The United States of America, in 1930, to play in a four man team, prestigiously chosen by the LTA.
In 1932, he opted to use a Slazenger (since 1881) racket in match play, endorsing the Panther motif clothing range (later; think Björn Borg and Seve Ballesteros) and a year later, he won his 1st Grand Slam tournament, in the U.S.
In 1934, he won the 1st of his 3-in-a-row Wimbledon Titles, followed by the Australian Championship and the U.S. Championship.
During 1935, he became the 1st person to complete a Career Grand Slam, by winning the French Open.
Up until 2012 (Andy Murray), he was the last British male to win a Grand Slam.
The same applied, up until 2013 (for Wimbledon; Murray again).
From 1933, to 1936, he led the British Team to 4 victories in a row, in The Davis Cup.
He also won the Mixed Doubles at Wimbledon, twice.
(Record = 8 Grand Slams/4 Doubles wins).
Bemusingly and sadly, Fred was outcasted; regarded as a cocky upstart, snubbed for his Northern, Working Class Roots/his major appetite to be a unique trailblazer/ruthless winner.
Plus the fact, that he may never have had the chance to be a tennis star, if his Dad had not moved them to The Big Smoke.
He overheard a Wimbledon Commitee Member saying to a Journalist that "the best man didn't win" after beating Jack Crawford, in the 1934 Singles Championship Final.
This hurt him for several years to come; the overiding feeling of being an unpopular Champion.
Oh, the irony/hypocrisy of the anti-Perry establishment, having a Fred Perry statue unveiled, adorning Wimbledon itself, after years of bitter resentment towards him!
Funnily enough, in the same year, he was the only tennis player to feature in a Best Of, in relation to sport stars, via a poll conducted by 2,000 people.
At one point, he used to train with the Arsenal Football Team to keep his fitness levels up!
He later became a tennis broadcaster, from 1959, to 1994.
The first sweatband was formulated by Fred and Austrian Tibby Wegner.
This was followed by the production of the cotton pique, buttoned placket (polo shirt, 1896), first launched in 1952.
The M3 design was worn at each match he played, which then later inspired the making of the M12 label.
The first and only colours were White and Black.
White shirts are prohibited in Table Tennis, so coloured shirts were then designed.
With a rebellious/non-conformist attitude, combined with a Smart/Casual ethos; lacquered with the essence of style and substance, the colourful kaleidoscope of the Fred Perry brand and its Laurel Wreath (Greek, For Victory) logo has been a huge way of life for Subcultures.
In particular, the Mods (We Are The Mods)/, the Skinhead Movement (The Spirit of '69), the Northern Soul scene (Keep The Faith), circa 1979 - the Manchester/Salford Perry Boys (Inner-City Firms/Gangs - think The Fall - City Hobgoblins/Morrissey's keen/distinct social commentary on "Perrys", cords and violence ), Rudeboys (Black & White, Unite & Fight), Casuals (It's A Way Of Life), the Britpop scene (The Battle Of...).
Followed by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, Amy Winehouse et al (R.I.P.).
Football Casuals have been more than catered for over the years and the rumour is that a purchaser from Lillywhites had put in an order for football colour designs to be continuously sold from their shop.
Made In England -
The Original Fred Perry garments are individually/carefully knitted, dyed, cut, embroided and finished in Leicester, by a highly considered, vastly skilled, massively experienced and passionate team of workers, at the very heart and soul of each created, intricate piece, surrounded by an old-school, red brick environment.
(N.B. - the notorious Laurel Wreath almost never made it - It was nearly a Pipe emblem, due to the fact that Fred was a Tobacco Connoisseur!).
He has left behind a marvellous legacy, for generations to come in the sporting world, as well as the music, football and fashion firmament.
Fred Perry (R.I.P.) died in 1995, after a fall in an Australian hotel, at the age of 85.
His iconic and powerful style will live on for eternity.
"Champion - Good enough for me".
Indeed, you will always be good enough, Mr. Perry -
For All Subcultures x