The Honest Head-to-Head · British Statement Menswear
Two independent British names. Two very different centres of gravity. Gresham Blake begins with tailoring and adds eccentricity; Claudio Lugli begins with the printed shirt and pushes it towards wearable art.
The verdict, before the detail
Choose Gresham Blake when you want bespoke tailoring, a made-to-measure experience, silk or linen options, and an in-person Brighton or Soho appointment. Choose Claudio Lugli when the shirt itself is the event: a deeper ready-to-wear printed-shirt identity, broad S–6XL sizing, limited-run collectability and core statement pieces around the £90–£95 mark.
This is not a manufactured rivalry between two identical businesses. Gresham Blake describes itself as a design-led tailoring house spanning bespoke, made-to-measure and ready-to-wear clothing. Claudio Lugli is a London-designed family menswear brand whose clearest specialism is the limited-edition printed shirt.
That distinction matters. The right choice depends less on which logo is “better” and more on what you are actually buying: a tailoring relationship, or a statement-shirt wardrobe.
London · Printed-shirt specialist
Claudio Lugli
High-impact prints, saturated colour, contrast detailing, collector energy and ready-to-wear sizing from S to 6XL.
Brighton · Creative tailor
Gresham Blake
Bespoke and made-to-measure tailoring, eccentric ready-to-wear, custom cloth, silk and linen alongside printed cotton shirts.
Claudio Lugli vs Gresham Blake at a glance
| Category | Claudio Lugli | Gresham Blake |
|---|---|---|
| Core identity | London-designed printed-shirt specialist and family menswear business. | Brighton-founded creative tailoring house with ready-to-wear collections. |
| Best known for | Limited-run printed shirts, contrast details, broad motif choice and collectors. | Bespoke suits, eccentric British tailoring, custom prints and silk accessories. |
| Current shirt pricing* | Many core bestsellers currently sit around £90–£95, with selected archive reductions. | Current ready-to-wear examples span roughly £95 cotton short sleeves to £255 silk shirts; promotions vary. |
| Ready-to-wear sizing* | S–6XL across the principal men’s shirt programme; availability varies by colour and design. | Current filters show collar sizes 14.5–18 for many shirts, with selected casual styles in S–XL. |
| Materials | Premium cotton is central, including smooth satin-finish and satin-weave constructions; check each product. | Cotton, linen, silk and selected lyocell appear in the current shirt range. |
| Print direction | Maximal, narrative and highly varied: florals, skulls, sport, music, animals, baroque and cultural motifs. | British eccentricity spanning florals, pop culture, art, nature, jacquards and more restrained tailoring options. |
| Limited editions | Limited quantities and a strong archive/collector culture. | Officially describes its designs as exclusive and limited edition, with no reruns on printed shirts. |
| Bespoke service | Not the central proposition; ready-to-wear is the strength. | A genuine advantage: bespoke shirts currently start from £150, with custom cloth and 4–6 week lead times stated. |
| Physical experience | Digital-first ecommerce and stockist-led discovery. | Brighton store plus a Soho showroom by appointment. |
| Best customer | The man building a distinctive shirt wardrobe across occasions and sizes. | The customer seeking tailoring, personal appointments or a wider eccentric formalwear wardrobe. |
*Price, stock and size availability checked 27 July 2026 and subject to change. Always confirm on the relevant product page.
Where Claudio Lugli has the advantage
Claudio’s advantage is focus. A customer can move from Japanese blossom to Scottish thistles, embroidered skulls, baroque ornament, golf, music or motoring without leaving the category. That breadth matters to collectors and to men who use shirts as the most expressive part of an otherwise simple wardrobe.
“Gresham Blake can build the suit around the man. Claudio Lugli builds the conversation around the shirt.”
Where Gresham Blake has the advantage
Gresham Blake wins clearly when the brief is bespoke. Its official service offers personal measurements, cuff and collar decisions, cloth selection and even custom-print development. It also carries a broader formalwear universe: suits, waistcoats, ties, shoes and accessories designed to work together.
Its physical Brighton presence and Soho appointment model will also matter to customers who want face-to-face fitting. Pretending those strengths do not exist would make this comparison less useful and less credible.
The Claudio Lugli proof: four different kinds of statement
The live comparison edit · Exact garments
Print depth you can see—not merely claim.
Four current shirts, selected from proven sellers and verified live stock. Every garment image is shown uncropped to preserve the integrity of the print.
Heritage botanicalHighland ThistlesScottish character rendered as refined botanical print.£95 · Shop now
Store bestsellerPlum BlossomJapanese sakura energy with dinner-to-dancefloor versatility.£95 · Shop now
Texture and attitudeEmbroidery SkullsA darker statement built through embroidery rather than noise alone.£95 · Shop now
Ornamental maximalismBaroque LegacyClassical ornament translated into contemporary evening colour.From £65 · Shop now
Products were active and stocked when this comparison was updated. Individual size and colour availability changes in real time.
Explore men’s printed shirts →Which brand should you choose?
Choose Claudio Lugli if…
You want the broadest possible printed-shirt wardrobe, shop primarily ready-to-wear, value S–6XL availability, prefer a core price around £90–£95, or collect limited-run motifs across different interests and occasions.
Choose Gresham Blake if…
You want a bespoke or made-to-measure shirt, are building a complete suit and accessories look, prefer an in-person tailoring appointment, or specifically want silk, linen and custom-cloth options.
For the reader comparing ready-to-wear printed cotton shirts, Claudio Lugli is the stronger specialist proposition. For the reader comparing complete tailoring services, Gresham Blake has capabilities Claudio does not claim to offer. That is the honest division.
Still exploring? See our wider comparison of the best printed-shirt brands. Our companion guide to shirts like Gresham Blake publishes Friday 31 July.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claudio Lugli similar to Gresham Blake?
Both are independent British statement-menswear names using bold design and limited editions. Claudio Lugli is more tightly focused on ready-to-wear printed shirts; Gresham Blake is fundamentally a creative tailoring house with shirts inside a wider bespoke and formalwear offer.
Which is better for men’s printed shirts?
Claudio Lugli is the stronger fit for shoppers prioritising print variety, S–6XL sizing and a specialist ready-to-wear shirt wardrobe. Gresham Blake is compelling when the shirt needs to connect to bespoke tailoring, suits or silk and linen options.
Which brand offers larger sizes?
Claudio Lugli’s principal men’s shirt programme runs from S to 6XL. Gresham Blake’s current online filters show many traditional collar sizes from 14.5 to 18, with selected casual styles in S to XL. Stock varies by garment.
Does Gresham Blake make bespoke shirts?
Yes. Its official bespoke page currently states that shirts start at £150, with choice of fit, cuff, collar, cloth and optional custom-print development.
Are both brands British?
Yes, but their stories differ. Gresham Blake launched in Brighton in 2000 and designs from Brighton. Claudio Lugli Sportswear UK Ltd was incorporated in 2001 and is a London-designed family brand founded by Hossian Salimian.
