Marcel Cerdan, history of the brand
I think everyone knows Marcel Cerdan, the illustrious French boxer, middleweight world champion in 1948, nicknamed "the Moroccan bomber". It's the post-war era and Jake LaMotta ("Raging Bull"), Joe Louis and other Sugar Ray Robinson.
Marcel Cerdan was also widely publicized for his romance with Edith Piaf, whose companion he was. At the end of the 1950s, aware that he would not be able to box all his life, the champion was already anticipating his retirement by preparing a clothing brand in his name.
Because after his victorious world championship, he became a profitable investment and the American marketing machine set out to develop his notoriety. He launched a collection branded Cerdan with his professional equipment supplier (from this evolution from boxing equipment supplier to ready-to-wear sportswear, only the Everlast brand remains today, famous among boxers and those who practice MMA).
This original collection is one of the first initiatives to distribute branded sports products in the name of a champion (and he is French!). But the sudden disappearance of Marcel Cerdan, at the age of 33, in the crash of the Paris - New York flight on October 27, 1949 stopped this initiative.
It was through his correspondence with Edith Piaf that his grandson Nicolas learned of this company. A large number of Cerdan Héritage products come from Marcel Cerdan's original wardrobe: he found products from international collectors and decided to revive the brand, with a lot of passion and family recognition.
The Cerdan brand is therefore a half-century-old project, which finally came to fruition a few years ago, with the (re)launch of the brand by the champion's grandson: Nicolas Cerdan. And that's what we're going to test today.
Comfortable clothes for the weekend
I really like the vintage-looking materials that the Cerdan brand uses. All products are 100% cotton, with heavy weights (270gr/m² for the shorts for example), to which a carbon treatment is applied which gives them a very particular feel: it almost looks like cotton cashmere.
Then, they are pre-washed to ensure optimal shape and color retention. The production is very close to that which was carried out in the 1940s. But unlike the clothes of the time, the brand focuses on modern, more fitted cuts.
T-shirt actually a little thick for sports where you breathe.
Finally, all clothing, accessories and luggage are made in Portugal. The quality is excellent, we are not used to finding it in this price range . Big favorite for this brand, but that's what we're going to see in the tests of the t-shirt, shorts and hoodie.
T-shirt test
We start light with an eggshell-colored t-shirt (very slightly yellowed white).
What is immediately striking is the density of the fabric, it remains a t-shirt but we feel that there is material inside. It's not necessarily thicker than another t-shirt but here the weave is very dense and tight. To give you an idea, it's 190gr/m² (American Apparel t-shirts range between 129gr and 197gr, the Kowtow are 190gr: we're at the top of the basket).
Also note the very clean finishes on the seams and the label .
The cut of the t-shirts is quite specific, with a short collar and tight sleeves with ribbing. Other than that, it's a well-executed classic, with a close-to-the-body cut and very clean shoulders. It costs around €37.
Shorts test
The shorts are also very nice. It is in jersey, with raw edges (no seams) at the end of the thighs and just a few discreet embroidery, well done, and in a spirit consistent with the brand and the product.
Generally speaking, I really like the choice of colors at Cerdan Héritage. We never have a basic navy blue or gray, but always a slightly sophisticated color tone.
The navy blue of the hoodie and the shorts, for example, leans very slightly towards pine green: it's almost imperceptible but it still gives a more sought-after color. As for the shades, they are deep, no dusty colors here. Distributed between €60 and €70.
Lots of care also in the embroidery.
Detail of the fly (in real life the shorts are closer to that color).
Interior, once again a lot of care given to everything.
And these rather unusual Dutch seams.
Hoodie test
The weight here is also heavy, we still exceed the 270gr/m² of the shorts to reach 350gr (we are usually closer to 180gr/m²). To give you an idea, American Apparel is already 278gr/m². In short, this heavy weight gives the fabric a certain drape, without making it really thicker. It’s less annoying too. And of course this is an important factor in sustainability.
The hood is lined, and not with polyester but with cotton satin: they really did things thoroughly:
The zips are in a well-chosen bronze color and they are made of metal.
A red stripe that runs along the arm and brings a little contrast to the piece:
The price remains super affordable considering the quality ( €75 on their e-shop ): for me it's borderline underpriced.
Bonus photo with Benoît and the goodies:
Difference between sports equipment and sportswear
On the other hand, you must be aware that these are not technical clothing. By that I mean they are not designed specifically for sports. Nothing stops you from wearing them before or after sports, or in the gym if you don't sweat too much when you push your weight. But clearly it will not be suitable if you sweat in it : we have here a "lifestyle" garment, and not sports equipment which you will have to look for from the good lines of Nike, Adidas, Everlast, etc.. .
However, the brand will be perfect for those looking for a bit of stylish sportswear for Sundays or at home, because these are clothes in which you really feel very good. The hoodie, for example, is high enough quality to be worn with raw jeans: it's certainly jogging but it won't look "I'm 25 and I'm still in college".
And the cuts are indeed well fitted.
Finally, note that the brand also offers vintage-inspired clothing that is not related to sport, such as a gabardine bomber jacket:
Or tweed and twill caps:
The site and the entire range can be viewed here .
Thanks to Nicolas and Alban from Cerdan Héritage for their welcome, to Sami for not hitting me too hard (when we take photos), and to the team at Fitness Story , my gym (avenue de Saint-Ouen in Paris ).
