French Navy to sell its clothing as a brand for the first time with Breton striped tops

It was immortalised by the likes of Coco Chanel and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Now the French Navy belatedly hopes to cash in on the enduring fashion for the striped sailor top by launching its own brand of products selling the real thing.

The blue-and-white marinière was added to the French Navy's official uniform for seamen in 1858 and front and back, has 20 navy blue stripes and on the sleeves 14 navy blue stripes spaced the same.

Sailors used to say that the stripes made it easier to see men who had fallen into the sea.

For the first time, the French Navy will from Thursday be able to sell the famed tops along with hats, and also watches, bags and other accessories under the brand “Marine National 1626”- the year “la Royale” as the French Navy is known, was created by Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister to King Louis XIII.

The French Navy's chief-of-staff, Admiral Pierre Vandier, said that it wanted “to be better known by the French people who it serves everyday, all over the world”.

He wished “bon vent” (fair winds) to the brand, whose logo is an anchor with a red pompom on top. Almost all of the products are “made in France”.

The navy will also offer a “young, chic and dynamic” range of bags made of recycled sails.

The proceeds will go towards "improving the working conditions of sailors on board and to fund our charities, which notably look after the wounded," Admiral Vandier said.

The French Navy is following in the footsteps of the Elysée Palace, which opened a presidential store as a showcase for French savoir-faire and also to refurbish the vast building housing the French head of state.