The first of a pair of rather wild parkas that I believe to be experimental or prototype pieces. Whilst at first very similar to the 1943 Reversible Ski Parka, these are infact a different pattern. Most notably the felled seams the divide both the front and the back into two separate pattern pieces, and a differently shaped pocket on the front with a more rounded corner and and sharper angled top. Along with this is a far more raw, unfinished construction, with details like unfinished fabric edges inside the pocket - on final issued garments their edges are always overlocked to prevent the fabric fraying. Add to this are some strange handwritten marks on the garment on the white just beneath the hood. Of the two I currently have, both are the same chest, but this is longer than the other. I've only seen three of these, all in different fabrics. This one is a poplin drab with a cotton twill white, I've got a byrd cloth drab and white version, and I've seen a great nylon version that belongs to Bob at Vintage Productions. I'm unsure exactly when and why these were made, possibly working test samples for the reversible ski parka, or maybe made postwar to test different fabric variations.
Condition
Well used with some clear areas of hand-repairs and dirt marks. A couple of popped seams have been hand repaired around the hem and the left side of the green, and a couple of rips in the fabric, one by the hem, one by the pocket have been field repaired. Some staining and marking throughout.
Size
- No tags of labels of any kind
- Fits like a medium/large
- Pit to pit 24"
- Shoulder to shoulder 22"
- Shoulder to cuff 22"
- Collar to hem 34"