Grenfell AW17: Made in London Outerwear with Heritage

I've a lot of time for Grenfell and own (and wear) vintage and modern pieces of their British-made outerwear. Grenfell's links to exploration and the great outdoors started in 1923 with the production of a closely woven cotton that was wind and water proof. It was used to clothe many mountaineering and polar expeditions and was adopted by country and motoring sports enthusiasts. Today Grenfell makes its products in London and has collaborated with many other brands to market its particularly British style of outdoorwear.

Vintage Grenfell

With autumn nearly on us, you may be needing something from their AW17 (autumn/winter '17) collection. It follows their heritage/archive inspired approach and is available online and from Harrods. I've been able to wear a coat from the collection, the Tourer jacket (pictured below).

The Grenfell Tourer is a beautifully made coat that is part biker and part country/combat jacket. The details are striking, with poppers, pockets and flaps that are well-designed and practical, closing with a mechanical perfection that makes the jacket shout style and quality. Lined with a colourful tartan and made from water and wind proof Grenfell cloth, it has all the makings of a modern classic. I'd love to see it in a country brown and olive, but for the moment it's only available in black, no doubt to echo the biking heritage. It's also slim cut, so I suggest you go a size up to wear with thick knitwear.

Another favourite of mine is the Shooter jacket (above). It's already been around for a year or two and was a revival of an archive design. I own both vintage and modern versions. The differences are few, but the coat represents a stylish alternative to the now commonly seen waxed jacket, or the nylon waterproofs that are fine on mountaineers but less necessary for more stylish outdoor activities. I've worn it in drenching rain and it hasn't failed me yet.

The Walker jacket (above), another revival from the Grenfell archive, is one I hope to try in anger soon. Worn by mountaineers and walkers in the mid-twentieth century, it would be interesting to see how this shapes up against the modern Gore-Tex equivalent. It's unashamedly traditional and simple design makes it a piece that will, like most of Grenfell's products, last a lifetime without ageing or wearing out.

Here are images of some of the collection: