Skip to main content

This season’s men’s fashion icon is Popeye the sailor man

How Popeye the sailor man became a high-fashion icon

At 93-years-young, Popeye the sailor man is stylin’ this fall. The King Features icon who first appeared in 1929 (per Britannica) is now the main character leading international men’s fashion. Maybe it’s the mean mug, or maybe an all-spinach diet just makes you live forever…

Now at the forefront of the pop culture scene, it’s not the old sailor guy who is gracing global high fashion houses. King Features and six international textile designers joined to reimagine Popeye with styles that meet and speak to upcoming generations. This co-op spans decades and oceans, from Seattle across the Atlantic to the UK, and down through the Middle East into India. While the sailor is riding a wave into the future, this isn’t his first time sailing in vogue seas.

Popeye Intimissimi shirt on a model
Intimissimi/Popeye

How Popeye the sailor man became a fashion icon

“Apparel has long been a top-performing category for the brand as Popeye has evolved from a well-known character in print and film into a fashion icon,” Carla Silva, King Features vice president and global head of licensing, said in an email.

Silva cites Popeye and friends like Olive Oyl who have been regularly inspiring collections from luxury Italian maker Moschino for over 20 years. More recently, King has found success partnering with brands like Supreme, A Bathing Ape, and New Era. The animated producer and distributor very conspicuously aims for high-fashion collaborations.

“Popeye’s association with high-end fashion throughout the world is not new, but awareness of his fashion icon status is growing within the mainstream,” Silva said. “Today we are building some incredible momentum – our recent Iceberg x Popeye collaboration was highlighted by media in several countries during Milan Fashion Week. And the collaborations we launched this year have caused a ripple across the fashion industry.”

In other words, King Features is not going to settle for just any brand that slaps their characters on a shirt.

“When considering market-specific opportunities, finding collaboration partners who focus on quality materials and design is more important than the territory in which the partner is located,” Silva said. “Consumer engagement is also top of mind, so securing influential fashion partners who have significant brand awareness and social following helps Popeye reach new audiences.”

It is only fitting that Popeye will adorn a limited-edition collection of apparel and wares from Filson, for example. The iconic Pacific Northwest retailer and outfitter has deep roots invested in Seattle’s maritime community as well as the King Features Syndicate. This capsule will include custom Popeye graphics on Filson tees, a hoodie, and a variety of items available at Filson.com and at Filson stores.

“We love the personality and character of everyone’s favorite spinach-loving sailor, and this collaboration was a natural fit for both brands, which are well-respected at the docks,” Filson’s chief creative officer, Alex Carleton, said in a statement. “Following the success of our first collection with Popeye in 2019, we’re thrilled to offer fans of these American classics new designs.”

Popeye Iceberg long sleeve football jersey.
Iceberg/Popeye

Popeye the sailor man cares about sustainable fashion

Partners also relate to the Popeye aesthetic and advocacy. The Iceberg men’s collection, for example, captures the exploring lifestyle brand’s rugged and intrepid look with Popeye-inspired, nautical-themed designs. The spinach-eating sailor’s strong values embody the spirit of the collection and are an integral part of the garments’ concepts.

“The message is a powerful one: strength, resilience, confidence, and freedom to be yourself are so integral to Popeye’s identity,” Grazia Bussandri, Popeye’s Italian agent, said in a statement.

Speaking of maritime, the 21st century Popeye is also a clean-ocean advocate teaming with The SeaCleaners nonprofit to drive positive change in the textile space. This means partnering with designers and brands who are committed to eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices.

“Over the past few years, Popeye has inspired eco-conscious fashion collections around the world with United Colors of Benetton, Brava Fabrics, Noah, Mey, A-dam, and Á La Garçonne,” Silva said. “I’m thrilled to announce that this October, Popeye will be launching his first-ever, sustainably focused high-fashion collection where a portion of the proceeds will directly support The SeaCleaners’ ocean clean-up efforts.”

Though Popeye prefers salt water, he doesn’t discriminate against land lubbers, especially athletes and kids. Part of his new collaborations is a team-up with the biggest name in Indian cricket, Virat Kohli, for the all-new Popeye x Wrogn men’s apparel line, available now in India. Wrogn is an Indian youth fashion and apparel brand for men co-created by the international sporting sensation, Kohli, on a range of 28 t-shirts featuring classic poses of the spinach-eating sailor paired with the graphic Wrogn logo.

“Popeye has an incredibly engaged fanbase in India and this partnership with Wrogn brings those fans a fresh line of unique, on-trend merchandise celebrating his ‘strong to the finish’ lifestyle,” Silva said.

Popeye even recently underwent a makeover in the funny pages. After legendary cartoonist Hy Eisman drew the character for 28 years, Eisman retired this summer, passing the torch to Randy Milholland, who is lending his distinct style to bringing Popeye into modern times.

Editors' Recommendations

Matthew Denis
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
Business casual shoes for men: 5 styles every man should own
Finish off your business casual look with the right shoes
Oxford dress shoes and a belt

Ah, yes, the always fun and always confusing concept of business casual. When you apply for a job somewhere that boasts a business casual dress code, it would be a good idea for you to clarify what they mean by the statement; some places see business casual as nothing but a polo and whatever pants are the most comfortable, and other places view it as essentially business professional without a tie. With all that confusion and that much of a range between the options, it can be hard to know what the best business casual shoes are.

What shoes count for business casual?
The best way to look at business casual and the accompanying shoes is that they are an elevated version of the shoes you wear outside the office. When you want to elevate a casual outfit, you can do it with the shoes. It also works the other direction, as dressing down a more formal outfit can be accomplished by going one step more casual with your shoes. A good example is to consider wearing a pair of casual Chelsea boots with your dress pants and dress shirt to dress them down or dress shoes with your jeans to dress them up.

Read more
Smartwool, Icebreaker, and more: Our top picks for lightweight, summer-ready merino wool clothing for men
Merino wool can keep you cool in any kind of weather
Man at the top of a mountain wearing a Merino wool sweater

While the changing weather and varying temperatures can present challenges, you don't have to compromise on your style, as we've got the perfect solution to keep you looking sharp and feeling comfortable year-round. We're bringing you the crème de la crème of merino wool clothing from renowned brands like Smartwool, TREW, Icebreaker, Outdoor Vitals, and more. From lightweight tees that feel like a second skin to shorts that offer unrestricted movement, we've curated a collection that's tailor-made for the modern man.

This summer you can sip a drink by the pool while sporting a merino wool polo that effortlessly combines style and functionality. The moisture-wicking properties keep those embarrassing sweat stains at bay, and the natural odor resistance ensures you stay as fresh as a summer breeze. You can easily slip into these for a laid-back evening grabbing a drink with friends or while you tackle the daily grind without feeling uncomfortable, regardless of the weather outside.

Read more
Women’s watches are the next big thing in men’s watches (yes, really)
If you love men's watches, consider trying one made for women instead
Tissot watch laying on floor

There has always been a divide men typically haven't dared cross in the fashion world—the line between genders. Women wearing traditionally masculine clothing — or trends that society has perceived to be more masculine than feminine — has been more or less accepted, but the opposite hasn't really been true. You can see the evidence simply in colors, where women have never shied away from wearing the color blue, but men didn't even think about wearing the color pink until we as a society progressed enough to make it acceptable. (And let's be clear here: Everyone can — and should — wear both pink and blue.) The newest fashion fad that shows how those gender lines are blurring? Watches.

Men (even some famous ones) are moving beyond wearing only men's watches and have also begun to wear women's watches. We've seen it recently with celebrities ranging from the Weeknd to Succession actor Jeremy Strong sporting watches that are technically designated as women's watches. But there are some excellent reasons for this, both in a social sense and a practical one.

Read more