A range of clothing has been launched for Sailor Jerry rum in collaboration with artist and bass player Paul Simonon.
The Flash Collection is a series of ongoing collaborations between Sailor Jerry and like-minded artists, inspired by the iconic tattoo flash of tattooist Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins.
Paul has designed three limited-edition items of clothing: a leather jacket, T-shirts and a neckerchief, which are available via www.sailorjerryclothing.com and British motorcycle clothing company Lewis Leathers.
Along with Mick Jones, Paul formed The Clash in 1976, joined shortly after by vocalist Joe Strummer. He later worked with leading musicians and was a key member of Gorillaz as well as working on his own visual art projects.
The leather jacket, made with heritage brand Lewis Leathers, will be produced in a limited range of just 50. Simonon selected the Lightning Jacket, which he wore in the early years of The Clash, and customised it to create his own unique signature design.
The back of the jacket features Paul’s interpretation of Norman Collins’ flash art from the 1950s – a skull and crossbone, and a banner reading “Jack to a King”. To give it a more rock ‘n’ roll feel, Paul has had every jacket hand-distressed, giving each one its own unique look and feel.
He said: “This is my first design collaboration and what’s been really interesting is interpreting Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins’ art and making my own version, adapting the jacket and customising it.”
The T-shirts, of which there will be only 500, will feature two unique line-drawings created by Paul, again inspired by Norman Collins’ signature style. The first is a tattooed mermaid riding the iconic Sailor Jerry anchor and the second mirrors the leather jacket design, a stripped-back skull and crossbones.
The final piece, the neckerchief, is a daily staple in Paul’s wardrobe and available in a limited run of 1,000 pieces. The printed red and white design features a hula girl playing the ukulele – an instrument that Paul jams on – and tiki-influenced tribal masks.
The T-shirts and the neckerchief have been custom-made, sewn, dyed and printed in the USA by Sailor Jerry Clothing.
Enda O’Sullivan, global brand director for Sailor Jerry, said: “Paul has produced some amazing designs for The Flash Collection by Paul Simonon. We wanted to raise the bar for Sailor Jerry Clothing and partnering with Paul has certainly done that.
“Sailor Jerry are extremely proud that the collection will be going on sale around the world. It allows us to continue to honour Sailor Jerry’s legacy and his enduring belief that bold simplicity is the benchmark of good design.”
