Many of our most renowned garments are rooted in our heritage. Take our Ventile® Raincoat for example. We’ve been producing similar waterproof, mid length jackets in our factory for over a hundred years. But we also like to mix things up. We’re not a reproduction brand, and we’re constantly looking to improve and develop on our pieces, sampling different fabrics, production techniques and executing them in fresh ways. Which is where designs like our Insulated Gilet and Jacket come in. Both garments are rooted in existing styles, but we’ve crafted them in new, technical fabrics and lined them with merino wool wadding, repurposing them into multi-functional hybrids that combine classic design with comfort, warmth and water-resistance.

For the fabric we’ve gone for an extraordinarily lightweight recycled polyester/cotton blend. It has a far more luxurious look and feel to fabrics used for similar padded garments, with its matte finish and subtle, crinkled texture. We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure the fibre is water-resistant, making the gilet and Jacket perfect as makeshift rainwear. Indeed, try running water over each garment and you’ll notice it glides straight off in the same way you’ll find with our signature Ventile^® outerwear.

It’s the chameleon of the outerwear world, borrowing from both hiking gilets with its high padded funnel neck, waterproof fabric and handy pockets, as well as the more refined styles that have been dressing the world’s financial centres for decades.

For a touch of contrast, the rear yoke features horizontal stitching, while two topstitched back seams give the garment shape, allowing it to conform to the wearer’s body without being too boxy.

The Insulated Jacket is a similar story. With a design rooted in workwear and military styles, this multi-pocket Jacket is all about utilitarian style. It references classic worker jackets but also military issued designs, specifically CPO shirts which were first worn by the US Navy in the 1930s. Featuring two chest pockets and a relaxed fit, this was a shirt designed for all-day use, something that was both smart enough but also practical.

As such, the Insulated Jacket features two large buttoned flap pockets at the chest, which have been improved with copper snap button closures. There are also two seam entry side pockets and an interior patch pocket, essentially negating the need for a bag. Passports, phones, wallets, keys and cash; they can all fit in this jacket with ease, making it somewhat of a travel essential. Indeed, it’s lightweight enough so that it can fold up into hand luggage, but it’s warm should you need a comfortable, cosy layer at the other end.

Notice how they line up perfect with the side entry pockets, as well as the opposite edge of the topstitched pockets. Its exterior pockets have the same concealed studs as the gilet, while five front copper poppers are present too, although this time there’s a smart padded collar in place of the funnel neck. There are sleeves this time, still with the top stitching and fully insulated throughout, while the cuffs boast adjustable poppers for a more customisable fit.

It even works with a full track pant and sweatshirt look, giving it a technical makeover with its waterproof fabric and practical pockets. These are true, all-season, all-weather pieces that vastly improve on the garments they are based on. If comfort, practicality and warmth are your priorities, there are no finer garments out there.

For the fabric we’ve gone for an extraordinarily lightweight recycled polyester/cotton blend. It has a far more luxurious look and feel to fabrics used for similar padded garments, with its matte finish and subtle, crinkled texture. We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure the fibre is water-resistant, making the gilet and Jacket perfect as makeshift rainwear. Indeed, try running water over each garment and you’ll notice it glides straight off in the same way you’ll find with our signature Ventile^® outerwear. 

This adds another layer of practicality and function to these pieces. Plus, knowing the fibres are recycled, you can wear them safe in the knowledge they have less ecological impact. Both pieces, as always, are crafted in our own factory in limited runs, which significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the garments while ensuring they’re made to our incredibly high standards by some of the most skilled craftspeople in the world.

All of which makes our insulated collection some of the most practical, multi-purpose garments out there. The gilet in particular has a do-it-all appeal that means it can be worn with a shirt and chinos en route to the office, or over a pair of jeans and a T-shirt on the weekend. It’s the chameleon of the outerwear world, borrowing from both hiking gilets with its high padded funnel neck, waterproof fabric and handy pockets, as well as the more refined styles that have been dressing the world’s financial centres for decades.

Breaking down the Insulated Gilet further, one of the first things you’ll notice is its distinctive stitching. Many padded gilets feature diamond or horizontal quilted stitching, which limits the designs somewhat, making each one look similar to the next. For ours, we’ve gone with vertical stitching with small, 1/4 inch gaps in between, resulting in a smarter, less intrusive look. It’s also much harder to achieve straight lines down the body of the garment, showcasing the skill of our factory workers, who have pattern matched the stitching from the top shoulder seam down, through the front pocket seam and to the bound hem.

For a touch of contrast, the rear yoke features horizontal stitching, while two topstitched back seams give the garment shape, allowing it to conform to the wearer’s body without being too boxy.

The Insulated Jacket is a similar story. With a design rooted in workwear and military styles, this multi-pocket Jacket is all about utilitarian style. It references classic worker jackets but also military issued designs, specifically CPO shirts which were first worn by the US Navy in the 1930s. Featuring two chest pockets and a relaxed fit, this was a shirt designed for all-day use, something that was both smart enough but also practical.

As such, the Insulated Jacket features two large buttoned flap pockets at the chest, which have been improved with copper snap button closures. There are also two seam entry side pockets and an interior patch pocket, essentially negating the need for a bag. Passports, phones, wallets, keys and cash; they can all fit in this jacket with ease, making it somewhat of a travel essential. Indeed, it’s lightweight enough so that it can fold up into hand luggage, but it’s warm should you need a comfortable, cosy layer at the other end.

The Jacket features many of the same details as the gilet. It’s got the same 1/4 inch topstitching, although this time it’s even more impressive with the addition of the two chest pockets. The sharp, clean lines of stitching really are a testament to the skill level of our workers.

Notice how they line up perfect with the side entry pockets, as well as the opposite edge of the topstitched pockets. Its exterior pockets have the same concealed studs as the gilet, while five front copper poppers are present too, although this time there’s a smart padded collar in place of the funnel neck. There are sleeves this time, still with the top stitching and fully insulated throughout, while the cuffs boast adjustable poppers for a more customisable fit.

Speaking of the fit, both the gilet and the jacket have regular fits, so it’s wise to go with your usual size if you want garments that are neither too slim or boxy. These are pieces that are more than at home on their own as outerwear, but their four-season weights ensure they can be layered under heavier coats and jackets beyond the warmer months.

That’s perhaps the best thing about these pieces. Incredibly versatile and easy to wear, they can be smart, laid back, and everything in between. The Jacket, for example, is right at home worn as part of a preppy layered look consisting of chinos, button down shirt, tie and canvas trainers. It finishes off the look as a warm, comfortable and practical outer layer, that can hold all your essentials, look cool and keep you dry during a sudden downpour.

As for the gilet, you might think the natural home for it is in the city. Indeed, wear it as part of a spring office look and it just works. Except it does better than that, because its unique design will stand out among the sea of ill-fitting quilted styles. The 1/4 inch topstitching and copper hardware will instantly mark you out as a man of taste and discernment. Where the Insulated Gilet shines though is when you dress it down, pairing it with denim jeans, tees, hoodies and trainers.

It even works with a full track pant and sweatshirt look, giving it a technical makeover with its waterproof fabric and practical pockets. These are true, all-season, all-weather pieces that vastly improve on the garments they are based on. If comfort, practicality and warmth are your priorities, there are no finer garments out there.