George Finch, an Australian chemist and mountaineer, is thought to have first worn a down jacket originally made from balloon fabric and duck down in 1922. Outdoor adventurer Eddie Bauer invented a down jacket in 1936 after he nearly died of hypothermia on a dangerous fishing trip. The adventurer invented a feather-encased coat, originally called the “skyliner.” As an effective insulator, the outer garment captures and retains warm air, making it a very popular choice for those enduring harsh winter conditions. In 1939, Ball was the first to create, sell, and patent his design. In 1937, designer Charles James created a jacket of a similar design for Haute Couture. James’ jacket is made of white satin but retains a similar quilting design, and he calls his work “aero jackets.” James’ designs proved difficult to replicate, and the thick padding inside the coat made upper-class mobility difficult. The designer considers his contribution to be small. This mistake was soon made up for by reducing the padding around the neck and armholes.
After its debut, down jackets became popular in the winter outdoor sports community for a decade. The down jacket began to transcend its practical purpose in the 1940s, when it was tailored and marketed to the wealthy as an eveningwear fabric. In the 1970s, designer Norma Kamali repurposed the garment as an athleisure jacket specifically for the women’s market. Called the “Sleeping Bag Jacket,” Kamari’s jacket features two jackets sewn together with a synthetic down sandwiched between them. Down jackets have become a staple of winter fashion over the past few decades. Throughout the 1980s, Italy wore neon-colored pufferfish. The jacket quickly became popular in the 1990s as a younger generation of revellers would adorn themselves with the down jacket and wear it all night in the winter months. A similar trend was witnessed in the United States throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, during which time popular hip-hop artists began wearing large jackets.
Post time: Sep-19-2022