The chore jacket is one of the most popular styles of work jacket. It was developed towards the end of the nineteenth century as industry started to develop in France.
The machinery people were working with on a daily basis was starting to become bigger and bigger. The worker’s clothing had to be durable enough to withstand the extra strain. As the years went on, manufacturers developed the garments to be comfortable to wear too. That’s why many work jackets are made out of moleskin material which is both durable and comfortable on the skin. Other styles of jacket have other focuses. For example, there are many waterproof work jackets which work best for construction work jackets. The fabric may be treated in such a way so it has a waxy coating on the outside. Alternatively, the fabric may be tightly woven, not allowing anything to seep through it.Many of them are windproof too, making the experience of wearing them all the more appealing. Work jackets are the antithesis to throwaway fashion. They are solid, built to last, and designed in such a way to make them practical to wear.
Work jackets at HANSEN
Here at HANSEN, we stock a variety of workwear jackets from different brands. As we have a range of nationalities amongst our arsenal, the type of work they were designed for differs widely too. To begin, we have a number of Le Laboureur work jackets, made out of both wool and moleskin. Le Laboureur started out making garments for agricultural workers in 1956. In fact, the name translates as ‘The Ploughman’. Over the years, their focus shifted to produce work wear more generally. The items they produce today are beautiful workwear jackets in the style of the Sack Coat, also called the French Chore Coat and Town Coat. They look almost like a heavy shirt which would be buttoned to the top. A brilliant example of a Le Laboureur jacket we have here at HANSEN is the Moleskin Work Jacket in hydrone blue. This colour is also known as ‘bleu de travail’ which was worn by joiners, stonemasons, and other craftsmen. Moleskin is made out of tightly woven cotton, making it very durable. It’s also soft even though it is a heavyweight fabric. This makes it a brilliant choice for a work rain jacket. It may not stand up next to a tough waterproof jacket but is more than capable for staying dry in everyday use.
Here at HANSEN Garments, we’ve also designed our own ANDERS work jacket. We’ve created them in 100% cotton which is also moleskin-like. It’s Italian fabric and is made in Europe. They’re produced in the colours coal and taupe. Each of the jackets have three pockets on the outside, an extra pocket detail on the front, and internal pockets too. They have horn buttons and are worn in a regular to loose fit.As this jacket is not lined, it’s brilliant for all seasons. Either layer up in the winter or wear it alone and open in the warmer summer months. It could even be used as a base layer with other items on top of it. It’s durability is emphasised by the amount of flexibility the jacket has too. Some suggest that the Pallet Life Story Engineer jacket is the best work jacket we have on sale. We stock it in both navy black and green brown.These pieces are made in Japan from 67% cotton and 33% nylon. They’re made in factories in Kojima, the ultimate place of garment production in Japan. Thanks to this, the fabrics are of unrivalled quality. These work jackets are created with all the small touches and features to suit modern life. For example, there is an additional pocket on the chest pocket designed to store pens in. There are also concealed warmer pockets on each side of the garment to keep your hands warm. Just like work jackets have always been made to suit the stresses of the professions they were made for, this jacket is geared up with the things to make modern life a bit easier. We have plenty of mens work jackets for sale, one to suit each need you may have. Take a look at our collection or come down to our shopfront to try different styles out.
Questions about work jackets answered
What’s the best way to care for work jackets?
As work jackets tend to be heavier items, you need to make sure that you care for them correctly to keep them in shape. With the Le Laboureur wool coats, it’s important to check the care label before you start. It may be necessary to get your jackets dry cleaned or to use the delicate, woolen, or hand-wash cycle on your washing machine.
Which other workwear brands are popular?
There are many other brands which began exclusively as workwear and now have a cult following. Different countries with different work forces have varying needs for their workwear which can still be seen today.For example, Dickies work jackets evolved from denim bib overalls. Dickies began in Texas, supplying southern workers with durable clothes which would last. They cite the moment that workwear changed into a trend item in 1988 when it was adopted by Southern California urban street-style people. Carhartt jackets are also very popular. Carhartt is another American company started at the end of the nineteenth century. The Carhartt work jackets are also hard-wearing, many of them made from tightly woven cotton. They also have some recognisable features in their workwear such as corduroy collars. Some of their pieces are quilt lined too. Carhartt also make softshell work jackets. A softshell jacket is likely to be used for jobs which are not done outside.
What’s our best heavy duty waterproof work jacket?
Although our pieces are not made from withstanding extreme weather, many of the cotton pieces will give you good waterproof resistance for if you get caught outside in the wet. The best waterproof work jacket in our collection must therefore be the Le Laboureur moleskin styles.
Are there any chore jackets for women?
Each of the pieces on our website are classed as menswear and are in men\s sizes. However, many of the styles work brilliantly as women’s winter coats too. For example, the Le Laboureur pieces are androgenous in the way they look, making them work well as work jackets for women. It’s just important to keep the sizing in mind so come down to our shop front if you would like to try on any of the items. This item would look great with a pair of women’s work overalls underneath them for example. Overalls is another piece of workwear clothing which has snook into the items we all wear everyday.
What other workwear items are popular?
Lots of other workwear items have been absorbed into our everyday wardrobes. For example, insulated construction jackets are warm to wear as well as having an oversized edge to them. The construction work jacket for fashion works well. Also, even waterproof work pants have come into popularity. DIfferent fabrics are used which are so much more durable than they’ve been before. The hard-edged element of them makes them a statement to wear.
