Lonsdale receives its name from the eponymous Hugh Cecil Lowther, fifth Earl of Lonsdale. Lord Lonsdale organised boxing matches in 1909 and was president of the National Sporting Club of Britain.
Every boxer who became a champion and defended his title successfully three times received the Lonsdale belt. Bernard Hart, an ex-boxer, visited Lord Lonsdale in the 1960s and asked for permission to use his name for a clothing brand targeted towards boxers.
Originally founded in London in 1960, Lonsdale produced boxing equipment, before branching out into sports and fashion clothing. In 1979 Paul Weller of the band "The Jam" bought some Lonsdale-t-shirts and provided the brand with a good image, as a result of which also non-athletes started wearing the clothing.
In the 80s and 90s Lonsdale clothing found favour particularly with Skinheads, Punks and Mods. Lonsdale articles have been worn by many famous boxers, including for example Mike Tyson, Henry Cooper, Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis.
Lonsdale receives its name from the eponymous Hugh Cecil Lowther, fifth Earl of Lonsdale. Lord Lonsdale organised boxing matches in 1909 and was president of the National Sporting Club of Britain. 