The Story Behind Tom Hardy’s New Go-To Clothing Brand

You have to feel for Tom Hardy. Every time the Venom star is required to wear a suit, he is destined for weeks of chatter about why he should be the next James Bond. It’s a familiar predicament for any handsome British actor with access to a trouser press right now, but nobody gets the 007 rumor mill turning like Hardy.

We’ve been guilty of it ourselves. But why not? He’d be a good pick.

So what to do? If you’re Hardy, you turn to the kind of suit maker that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see in the Bond universe. You sprint and leap across the roofs of Savile Row and fall into the arms of Ralph Lauren—or, more specifically, the brand’s heritage workwear line: Double RL.

During his latest two red-carpet appearances, for Havoc and MobLand, the actor turned up in three-piece suits from the label. The first was an unconstructed khaki canvas jacket with a linen-cotton vest underneath, doubled up with a notch and peak lapel combo. We’re not sure if the shirt, tie, and boots are also from Double RL, but we wouldn’t bet against it.

A few weeks later, at the MobLand premiere in London, he was once again decked out in the brand: This time it was a pinstripe indigo three-piece with a 1930s-flavored chain fob. But there was one element of the outfit that Ralph Lauren can’t take credit for: the red boutonniere—an anemone flower, to be specific—that was fixed to Hardy’s lapel by Esquire UK’s deputy editor Miranda Collinge at a cover shoot earlier that day. (You can read the full interview—and get a closer look at that navy suit and boutonniere—right here.)

So what is Double RL? The Ralph Lauren spin-off line began life in 1993, but its inspirations sit squarely in the early 20th century—specifically, American military, western, and workwear garb. Miners, cowboys, and old blue-collar uniforms are major reference points, and a big focus is placed on selvedge denim from respected American and Japanese mills. It often flies under the radar, despite being connected to one of the biggest menswear brands of all time. The name was derived from the working Colorado cattle ranch that Ralph owns with his wife, Ricky. (That’s where the double R comes in.)

Not everything on offer on the website’s main hub is quite as accessible as Hardy’s soft-shouldered suits. The current season offers Wright brothers–style flight coveralls, a knee-length shop coat that wouldn’t look out of place in an early-century steelworks, and a pair of pinstripe linen dungarees. But across the online catalogue and in the brick-and-mortar outposts, you’ll find a wider selection of very wearable patterned shawl cardigans, sweatshirts and tees, canvas jackets, and western-style shirts, jeans, belts, and other accessories. (Braided leather bolo tie, anyone?)

And if you see Tom Hardy turning up to red carpet somewhere in a double-breasted (somewhat … Bond-ish?) cream suit, you’ll know exactly where to find it.