DALLAS, Nov 23, 2009 / FW/ — The parka has always been a utilitarian garment since the Inuit (Alaska natives) invented it to protect themselves from the wind chill and the generally harsh climate of the arctic.
While the native Alaskans still use the parka the way it was originally meant for, the western world had made it into a fashion item.
Just to give you an idea how old the parka is, it first entered the English written record in 1625, and even then, there were already several variations of the garment.
Fast forward 200 years, in 1830, when Woolrich was founded, one its initial offerings is the parka. Up to today, two of its most popular items are the Active Parka and the Mountain Parka, thanks to Woolrich’s continuous improvement of the product for the past 179 years.
And now, it is time to update the parka once again. Woolrich John Rich & Bros has collaborated with the Japanese Nanamica, well known for its innovative functional fabrics and chic aesthetics to revise and renew Woolrich’s iconic Active and Mountain parka.
Making the silhouette more contemporary and using advance Japanese materials, the Active Parka which was originally a half-length coat has been modified into a contoured short jacket and realized with a lightweight 60740 fabric and photoelectric down.
The American classic Mountain Parka has been reshaped into a new coat-length with a slimmer, more tailored fit, using indigo and black cotton Gore-tex fabric. The check design that is iconic of Woolrich is used on the inside lining.
The items unveiled in this collaboration will be offered under the label WOOLRICH & NANAMICA label and will be available at Woolrich John Rich & Bros worldwide retailers in 2010.
[MARI DAVIS]
