Among my favorite types of outerwear , the parka has earned a special place in my heart over the years.
Already because a parka can be worn without problem with a backpack (we will not wear out the material and the padding of the shoulders, unlike a woolen cloth coat), it is very comfortable, even with a blazer in below. It is a piece that fits easily into casual outfits .
In short, a parka is the ultimate versatile outerwear !
It was precisely this point that was the beginning of my reflection: if the parka is versatile from a stylistic point of view, why not push the concept even further by creating a versatile piece all year round?
We started with a military parka inspiration, but brought up to date, with added versatility.
I also wanted a parka that we could wear for as long as possible, so a true 4-season one, and for that, we needed a removable lining, but I'll talk about that a little later...
We therefore had to find a “4 seasons” fabric , with a nice appearance while maintaining a minimum of water repellency and durability… and to add difficulty to these specifications, I did not want a fabric with a technical aspect.
And in two colors please: a pretty olive green and a stronger cognac yellow , but which made a remarkable entrance when I “teased” this color on my personal Instagram.
But which fabric should you choose for such specifications? And where to find it?
A water-repellent fabric from Olmetex
It's a fabric that comes from Olmetex, a high-end Italian supplier specializing in outerwear fabric.
Here, it is in partnership with a factory in South Korea which spins and weaves this material, a country which has real expertise in technical fabric , then it goes to Italy to the Olmetex factory for dyeing and emery finish which gives this soft texture. Finally, the finish is lightly waxed to add water repellency.
Here is its composition: 45% cotton , 39% polyester , 16% nylon . Why such a mix knowing that I usually have a preference for 100% cotton fabrics? It's ultimately quite simple to understand, each fiber has its important role to play...
- Cotton will provide comfort, softness, breathability and above all, a beautiful visual appearance. If this fabric does not look like a technical ski parka, it is (largely) thanks to this predominantly cotton composition.
- Polyester and nylon have the same role: providing durability , creating this pretty “peach skin” effect on the surface of the fabric on which water will be able to bead off.
In addition, these are two hydrophobic fibers, that is to say they do not retain water (unlike cotton), they therefore allow this fabric to dry much faster than 100% cotton in case rain or body moisture.
(Finally, this fabric has a composition quite similar to what can be found on certain military fabrics where, for the record, the properties of cotton make it possible to limit damage to the skin from a very strong source of sudden heat)
The result: a great versatile fabric, with a vintage look that looks great.
I didn't want a waterproof breathable membrane on this fabric for reasons of price, but also to have better breathability. It will be better adapted to mild temperatures.
It is therefore an exterior fabric which is above all very beautiful, soft, resistant, water-repellent and breathable.
Having seen the outside of this parka, let's now see what's inside.
A warm and comfortable removable lining
Now let's move on to the removable liner, which is attached to the parka by a button system. Its role is essential: it will keep you warm on the coolest days of the year.
On the body, there is a 100% recycled polyester fleece made in Italy, at Tessile Fiorentina, they were the ones who supplied the fleece for our fleece sleeveless vest too!
So obviously, the fleece underneath will keep you warm, especially since the outer fabric of the parka will prevent the wind from chasing away the hot air trapped in the fleece.
A lining with very warm sleeves, thanks to Climashield Apex insulation
As a reminder, Climashield is a manufacturer of very high-end and very renowned American insulation. It is the manufacturer that supplies most of the high-end outdoor and military brands, so it is a wadding that keeps its properties well over time. , in particular thanks to its construction in continuous filaments, which do not disintegrate.
I explained at length why I like this insulation so much, here is a brief summary:
- The wadding which makes up the insulation is arranged in continuous filaments: there is therefore much better resistance over time , and the insulation will not disintegrate,
- it resists compression very well , it regains its volume very quickly,
- and it wicks away moisture , unlike down.
Climashield lets us know that, according to them, weight for weight, APEX insulation is the most effective on the market.
For the sleeves of this liner, it is a thick 78gr/m2 Climashield Apex insulation, to keep your arms warm without restricting your movements.
Why not use fleece in the sleeves?
Quite simply because when you put on this parka, it will slide better on your sleeves!
It is quite difficult to give a temperature range in which you will be able to wear this parka, because it also depends on your physical activity, your natural resistance to the cold or more pragmatically the clothes you will wear underneath.
But I will say with a good sweater underneath, you won't have to fear clearly negative temperatures, down to -5°c.
This parka and the rain
A quick word about the waterproofness of this piece…
You know that protection against the elements is a subject that fascinates me and it is important for me to give you honest information about this parka against the rain:
- Basically it is very water-repellent, but as there is no waterproof membrane, water will end up entering in the event of a heavy, prolonged downpour,
- I said “heavy, prolonged downpour”, because 90% of the time, the downpour will be over before the water can penetrate the fabric and you will stay dry,
- and even if water does get in, it should pass through the removable liner, which dries very quickly.
In case you have to walk for a long time in pouring rain, if you start to feel a little humidity, don't worry, it will dry quickly!
So I think that for urban use, there is very, very, very little chance that you will get wet in the rain with this piece.
And don't forget, after intensive use, the water repellency is easily reactivated thanks to specialized products well known to hikers, such as the Nikwax range of products for example.
So in other words, with this parka in the rain, you have leeway, lots of leeway!
The fit
In terms of fit, it is a little wider than what we usually do, simply to have room for a removable lining underneath. If you remove the lining, you will have a fit with a little fullness, which will allow you to wear your large knits underneath without any problem.
That said, the production came out a little “tight”, so don't hesitate to size up to have room.
5 exterior pockets
You know that the subject of pockets is important to me!
Given that you have a removable lining, it would have been complicated to put interior pockets.
There are therefore 5 exterior pockets which break down as follows:
- 2 zipped hand pockets,
- another zipped pocket, under the flap of the left pocket, this is personally where I put my headphones,
- then there are 2 snap hand pockets.
Which is more than enough to store your personal belongings securely.
Other finishes
- little detail that you will like: the cords come from Shindo, a Japanese supplier recognized worldwide for its cords , which makes cords with a texture, a grain that I cannot find elsewhere.
- There is a double zip , very practical when you sit somewhere.
- all the buttons are made of horn, which contributes to having a high-end visual appearance.
The identity card of this parka
Outer fabric 45% cotton, 39% polyester and 16% nylon. The cotton comes from South Korea. The material is spun and woven there. Then Olmetex dyes it and finishes it in Italy. It is a light fabric of 193 gr/m2.
Removable lining in 100% recycled polyester fleece made in Italy. Its sleeves are in viscose, lined with Climashield Apex wadding. The latter is 78gr/m2 thick to protect your arms from the cold without restricting your movements.
Lining pockets and interior braids in ecru cotton from Cervotessile (Italy).
Assembly of the parka in western Ukraine, by the French company Lener Cordier.
What size to choose?
Simply take one size larger than your usual size. And if you want to check the measurements, follow the guide by clicking here .
How to get this parka?
Pre-order on our e-shop
Pre-orders are open! The khaki parkas will be sent to you on March 10 and the cognac parkas on March 16, to start spring in style .
In our stores
They are available in khaki and cognac now. Discover all our stores here .
Note: for the moment, our stores will not have sizes 44 and 56 in the cognac color, but you can pre-order these sizes on our e-shop.