Le Laboureur: Workwear Rising to the Top
Workwear has been an important part of the garment industry for centuries. Although it was first produced for those who were involved in manual labour, it now takes a much wider position in the market.
In many European countries, workwear clothing came into its own just after the industrial revolution. Suddenly, people were working with heavy machinery. There was a need for durable clothing, specially designed to withstand a heavy day’s toil in the factory.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that workwear started to be adopted by other groups of people. Doc Martens, for example, started as safety boots. Around the eighties, hardcore punks and football hooligans adopted them as part of their uniform.
Le Laboureur follows in this tradition - Primo Zalenti’s son Jean Charles sustained a heritage French brand that has provided real workwear solutions as well as people who look for quality and classic design in their clothes. This commitment is part of the brand’s original ethos, focusing on durable and dependable clothing for local craftsmen. The brand’s roots can be traced back to the eastern French town of Digoine, emphasizing its long-standing tradition of quality craftsmanship.
The Le Laboureur Handmade Workwear Clothing
Le Laboureur work clothing design is classic, with three pockets on the front - one breast and two lower patch pockets. There is also an inside breast pocket within each piece, showcasing the finest craftsmanship.
This type of workwear jacket is often referred to as a Sack Coat, French Chore Coat, Chore Jacket, or Town Coat. They rose in popularity during the later part of the nineteenth century and were worn like a heavy shirt, buttoned up to the top or to show off the waistcoat underneath.
Le Laboureur workwear is made of moleskin. Moleskin is a material made from heavy cotton which is then woven and subsequently sheared. This creates a very short, soft pile on one side of the fabric.
Le Laboureur’s commitment to providing local craftsmen with high-quality, durable clothing is reflected in their choice of materials and design.
The allure of this fabric is that it is both soft and durable. In fact, if moleskin is woven tightly enough, it can even be windproof. These qualities are very important for handmade clothing pieces as they had to last and at the same time be comfortable enough to sit in each day. That is why Le Laboureur moleskin still makes up many of their designs, maintaining a strong local production ethos in France.
All Le Laboureur black cotton clothing also features gold embroidered ‘Le Laboureur’ label inside as with all their jackets.
Le Laboureur at HANSEN Garments
Within HANSEN’s collection, we firstly have the Le Laboureur Work Jacket in black. In this colourway, the piece is made from 100% cotton moleskin, showcasing Le Laboureur’s long-standing tradition to produce quality outerwear. Le Laboureur also produces outerwear for the French Postal Service, highlighting the quality and craftsmanship of their clothing.
At HANSEN, we also stock the workwear jacket in the classic shade of Le Laboureur hydro one blue. This colour is significant as it is in ‘bleu de travail’, the colour worn by carpenters, stonemasons and other craftsmen.
Today our range also includes the original woollen workwear jackets, such as the Le Laboureur Wool Work Jacket in grey for a still price. This garment is made from 100% natural wool and adorned with brilliant red buttons, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to quality outerwear. Le Laboureur collaborates with renowned brands, further establishing its credibility and relevance in the market.
The wool is thick and from the Ouessant breed of sheep. This breed originated on a small island off the coast of Brittany which shares the same name. Ouessant wool comes in various natural colours, such as grey and black, brown, or rich whites.
The inner part of the wool, closest to the sheep’s body, is as soft as merino wool. However, the outer, protective layers are denser. This variation adds a natural fleck to the wool. This means that you can use Ouessant wool to create virgin wool - the unprocessed version of the material.
Today we stock the Wool Jackets in a deep, dusty blue colour or a natural beige tone as well. If you would like a Le Laboureur Wool Jacket review, come into the HANSEN store today. We are more than happy to help when you decide to try out the pieces for yourself.
All of Le Laboureur’s work clothes are created using the old methods and are imbued with the rich history of Le Laboureur as well as the original workwear clothing tradition in general. Le Laboureur’s collaboration with Junya Watanabe further emphasizes the quality and craftsmanship of the garments produced through this esteemed partnership.
Questions you might have about Le Laboureur
Where can I buy Le Laboureur garments?
Le Laboureur doesn’t have its stores, there is not even a Le Laboureur Paris. This means that you have to buy original Le Laboureur designs by Primo from their stockists, HANSEN being one of them.
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Which occasions can you wear Le Laboureur?
One of many special things regarding Le Laboureur clothing is its versatility. You can be using Le Laboureur Moleskin Work Jacket year-round and on many different occasions. The fact that these jackets are unlined means that they are completely breathable and relaxed to wear. Your creativity won't be stopped by the garment. You can find inspiration in our monthly newsletter.
The woollen jacket is the same. Although it is better suited to colder months, it is a smart jacket for daily wear as well as being classic enough to be worn for special occasions.
What else is popular from Le Laboureur?
Le Laboureur produces a range of everyday durable garments that all have that classic workwear feel. As well as their jackets, the brand designs Le Laboureur shirts and trousers.
Le Laboureur pants are very popular, such as the Le Laboureur corduroy trousers. Le Laboureur creates their trousers in the same materials as some of their jackets, such as the hydro one blue moleskin design.
It is also popular to collect vintage Le Laboureur pieces from Primo’s first designs. The beautiful thing is that the designs and materials have barely changed. The produce is still the same high quality.
How does Le Laboureur sizing compare to other brands?
The work jackets have quite a large, boxy fit which is something to bear in mind when you consider which size to buy. If you would like a slimmer fit, it may be an idea to size down.
Of course, you can come and try on the garments in-store at HANSEN so that you get the sizing just right. Comparing to other brands, they produce true to your size when it comes to outerwear.
What is so special about Le Laboureur golden label?
This is the label that shows that the item is a truly high-quality Le Laboureur garment. It reads ‘un vetement de qualite’ - a declaration from Le Laboureur that each of their pieces is made out of high-quality fabrics using the old methods, designed with your comfort in mind.
How did this style rise in popularity?
Over the past five years, workwear jackets have seen a serious resurgence. Interestingly, one of the reasons given is because of Bill Cunningham, a New York-based, street fashion photographer.
Bill took a liking to these, so much so that the shade has gained the nickname ‘Bill Cunningham blue’. He wore them as he cycled around New York, getting shots of the best dressed he could lay his camera lens on. His dedication to the style is the best Le Laboureur jacket review we could ever give.
