Alps & Meters: 'Designed by Tradition' for Skiing and Outdoors

I heard recently from an interesting skiing and outdoor brand called Alps & Meters. I've written much on the blog about the benefits of traditional materials for use in the Great Outdoors. While modern materials have their place in the most extreme conditions, you can't beat tweed, Ventile, merino layers, waxed cotton, Grenfell cloth and woollen knitwear for their good looks. Bright nylon/polyester anoraks are fine for climbing the most challenging peaks, but for less harsh environments, traditional fabrics are quieter to wear, breathable, more subtly coloured and definitely more stylish. 

British Millerain Alpine Anorak and Alpine Winter Trousers from Alps & Meters

Alps & Meters, a US brand born on a trip to Sweden, takes the same view of the place of heritage-style clothing in the skiing and outdoor worlds. They describe their products as 'Designed by Tradition' which sort of encapsulates the message in a few words. But you don't have to look like extras from The Heroes of Telemark; modern design and technology can improve the use and manufacture of traditional materials: think of dry-waxed cottons and water-resistant tweeds.

Materials from the past bring texture, natural colours, improved feel and robustness to outdoor clothes, allowing you to blend in rather than bounce off the landscape. Alps & Meters recognise all this in their range of knitwear, British Millerain waxed canvas, water resistant lambswool and leather - all with waterproof membranes where needed. My favourite pieces are the tweedy Alpine Winter Trousers (which come with braces and a water resistant membrane) and the British Millerain Alpine Anorak on which you can change the orange lacing to a more sober olive if needed (both pictured below and worn above). 

All blend the contemporary with the traditional in a very pleasing way. Leather is used for reinforcement where needed and water resistant knitwear takes the place of the fleece. The collection blends style with warmth and practicality. I've been using mine very comfortably for cold weather sorties into the fells of Cumbria and my son has in eye on them for his ski trips early in the New Year; I'll report back his experiences in due course. See Alps & Meters.

Shackleton: High Performance Clothing (20% Offer for Blog Readers)

I have a weakness for clothes originating in the very British heritage of adventure and exploration and am delighted that Shackleton, suppliers of British-made professional outdoor clothing to some of the toughest cold weather expeditions, are here offering their products to blog readers for a 20% discount (see below for details).

Clothing worn in the most extreme conditions has to be well-designed and robust and it's the toughness that makes it essential for extreme expeditions that also makes it invaluable for cold weekend walks and standing on icy railway platforms.

Wearing the Shackleton Discovery jacket made in Manchester, England

The Shackleton Company is named after that redoubtable polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. Best known for navigating a small boat to South Georgia to find help for those left behind stuck on the Antarctic ice, his careful leadership saved the lives of all of his men. He's less well known for his earlier expedition to the south magnetic pole in 1907 which saw him come within 97 miles of the South Pole.

The company has the blessing and shareholder support of Shackleton's granddaughter and aims to inspire a modern world to rediscover courage, endurance and adventure. It has sponsored Scott Sears, the Gurkha officer who is, at this very moment, walking across Antarctica in a bid to become the youngest man to walk solo and unsupported to The South Pole. Shackleton have supplied much of his clothing, including a bespoke down parka, made in England, which will protect him in temperatures of -60 degrees Celsius and high windspeeds on the Antarctic ice sheet.

The Discovery jacket

The Endurance jacket

This expedition pedigree lies at the heart of the British-manufactured jackets, shirts, knitwear and merino layers that form part of the Shackleton clothing collection. The Discovery and Endurance jackets are made in the same factory as Scott Sears's expedition jacket, the knitwear is knitted in the UK and based on patterns worn by Shackleton's expedition members.

These products are no 'chocolate soldiers', but the real thing. All are hand-made in Manchester by the same hands that equipped both Scott Sears and other tough cold weather expeditions. The Discovery and Endurance jackets are made with very high quality goose down and are tested in Antarctica to -20ºC. The Discovery has a cotton Ventile shell, making it waterproof and breathable, while the Endurance uses a lightweight technical fabric which makes it even lighter than the Discovery, but makes it look more 'mountaineering equipment' in appearance.

The Endurance jacket in olive worn with a Shackleton Submariner jumper

But these products aren't just for hairy explorers. What better for cold commutes, dogwalks, rugby matches, country rambles or for those whose jobs take them outdoors in all weathers? The expedition heritage means that they are better-made, will last longer and be more effective than lesser high street pretenders. I've worn both the Discovery and Endurance jackets and they are toasty warm, stylish, beautifully made and designed and completely fit for purpose, whether you're in an alpine or polar landscape or tramping to the station on a cold winter's morning.

The Lupoid down shirt in black and merino scarf

The Discovery jacket in Ventile with turtle neck jumper

I'm delighted to be collaborating with The Shackleton Company, not least because I'm planning a trip late next year to the South Atlantic and Antarctica, during which I hope to visit South Georgia where Sir Ernest died in 1922 and is buried. Over the next year I will be wearing, using and abusing the Shackleton Collection in both Antarctic and urban conditions to try out the best of British-made outdoor and expedition wear. 

To celebrate this collaboration Shackleton have agreed to offer a generous 20% discount to blog readers. If you visit Shackleton Clothing and enter GreyFox20 at the checkout the discount will apply.

Photographs by Andy Barnham. I've been wearing Shackleton clothing for this feature and have received no payment. All views are my own.

Barbour x Land Rover Defender Clothing for John Lewis

Earlier this year I was invited to the Land Rover factory in Solihull for the launch of a 'Defender' range of outdoor clothing by Barbour in collaboration with Land Rover. The collection was launched with the help of H166 HUE, the very last Land Rover Defender off the assembly line earlier this year. From shirts, through knitwear to very practical country style coats, the range is available only at John Lewis (link below).

The new collection is launched (and Grey Fox muscles in on the photoshoot) with the very last Defender

My favourite piece was the Land Rover Defender Hales waxed jacket (which I wear above and see images below). A clever mix of tweed and waxed cotton, this coat has its origins in the traditional field coat. The front is waxed, but the tweed back is designed to prevent your car seats (the Defender of course) from being covered with wax. The tweed is proofed to keep it weatherproof, although I've yet to test it in heavy rain. It's partly lined with tweed, making it very comfortable and also very warm - this is a coat for colder days. The sleeves are very long, although they can be turned up to reveal the tweed lining and I felt a lack of decent inside pockets was a disadvatnage. Other jackets, gilets and knitwear carry on the robust countrywear theme and many are far less pure countrywear than the Hales jacket.

The collection takes its inspiration from that very outdoor/sporting/countrywear heritage that has inspired both the best of British clothing and the best of go-anywhere 4x4 vehicles. As a nation we love our Land Rovers, our battered Barbours and our country and dog walks. This collections taps into those passions.

We had a tour around the factory. It's fascinating to see how the modern assembly line enables different cars to be assembled at the same time, each with different specifications and indeed with Land Rovers alongside Jaguars. We were also treated to a drive, in Range Rover Vogues, on the factory's own off-road course - through ponds, rivers, streams and over steep humps and hills. Great fun. 

See Barbour at John Lewis.

We were guests of Barbour, John Lewis and Land Rover. I was sent the Hales jacket for review. All views are mine alone.

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:

Grenfell Tourer

Campbell Gabardine Beige

The Rake x Grenfell Despatch Rider's Coat

Grenfell Harrington

For more information and products and to buy, go to Harrods or Grenfell's website. 

This is an unsponsored feature. I received a Tourer jacket for review. All views are mine alone.

Farlows Fieldwear: Made in Britain Field and Country Coat

Farlows isn't a new name to the country clothing scene, but they have only this autumn launched their own collection of British-made fieldwear. I was introduced to it recently by the designer, Peter Sant and was very impressed by the use of the best of British materials and manufacture. I've subsequently been able to wear and trial their Litchfield field coat.

The Farlows Litchfield field jacket in green herringbone tweed. Worn with other garments of my own.

Part of a Farlows collection of coats and jackets for men and women, the Litchfield has all the features you would expect of a coat made for every country pursuit. Ideal whether shooting or out with the dog, its tweed or Loden finish is backed by a technical waterproof and breathable barrier with a Ventile drip strip. There is a dry wax version as well. I'm wearing the green herringbone tweed coat. With Alcantara reinforcement, it will probably outlast me and has already accompanied me on many woodland and mountain trips. It has been cut with an action back for freedom of movement and plenty of capacious pockets (with silenced snaps) for cartridges, brandy flask, dog lead and treats, sandwiches etc etc. A future classic, it's been designed with great care and attention to detail and robustness.

See Farlows for information on their own and other outdoor, sporting, country and fieldwear ranges. 

This feature is unsponsored and all views are my own. The coat was supplied for review.

Curzon Classics: British outdoor style

You may not have heard of Curzon Classics. Based in Spain and run by a British couple, they make British-style country wear. The Spanish love the look, but it's available for you to buy wherever you are. British-made waxed jackets, tweeds, Tattersall check shirts, hats and accessories (all made in the EU) offer a very British look at reasonable prices.

Curzon Classics Hunter tweed half-Norfolk jacket with action back. Tattersall check shirt

Curzon Classics Oban green tweed blouson (other products from elsewhere)

I came across them when looking for brands to cover in my recent country wear feature. They sent a selection of clothes to try; from the tweed jacket with flap pockets and action back, to the waxed outdoor/biker-style jacket, I liked what I saw. The green tweed blouson pictured above makes a different but very practical country coat and has become an outdoor favourite. Curzon have used the country look and adapted it to a contemporary style.

Ross waxed gilet (worn here with a Farlows tweed field coat)

Norton Brown waxed jacket

To browse the Curzon Classics range, click here. More images of their products can be found on my outdoor clothing feature here. 

These clothes were provided for the purposes of my review. All opinions are my own. 

Nigel Cabourn Sherpa Jacket

I've long admired Nigel Cabourn's products and my Tenzing jacket has appeared here several times. The Sherpa jacket is new for this autumn/winter and is a dry-wax Harris tweed with removable Ventile hood and underarm ventilation holes. As with other items in his Authentic collection, it's made to very high standards in the UK. The tweed has a dry, rough, 'my-dog-slept-on-this' quality which I love and which gives the coat an immediate vintage feel.

Stylish, robust and practical, this tweed coat has already been out with me on many outdoor expeditions for which I might previously have worn a modern technical outerwear jacket. The special dry wax finish and Ventile hood, as well as the natural properties of the Harris tweed, make it water-resistant as well as warm and windproof. The generous cut allows it to be layered with a gilet and heavy knitwear.

The Sherpa could be worn almost anywhere: jackets like it would have been worn by any Alpine or Himalayan adventurer until the 1960s, after which modern nylon-based outwear (sadly) became the norm. Indeed, it was inspired by 1930s Sherpa wear, just as the earlier Cabourn-designed Mallory and Tenzing jackets were based on the tweed hunting/Norfolk jackets worn by mountaineers and climbers of the past.

Not cheap (thankfully) but made to the highest standards and in small quantities, this is for those who collect clothes as well as wear them. Cabourn's best pieces command high prices even second hand. I'm privileged to have owned some of this products. They are fun and practical to wear. See Nigel Cabourn.

This post is unsponsored. All views are mine alone.

British Outdoor Wear: A Photographic Celebration of a Great Heritage

In this feature, introduced in the previous post, below, I explore traditional British outdoor wear. I worked with photographer Tommy Martin in the beautiful fells of Cumbria to show how wool and cotton-based clothes are a practical and stylish alternative to modern technical wear. I've selected tweeds, waxed cottons, knitwear, canvas and leather, some backed with modern waterproof materials. I've included a mix of heritage and modern brands selling traditional country and outdoor clothing and accessories. Links to suppliers are at the end of this feature.

Above: Shackleton Signature jumper: Shackleton. Tweed breeks: Cordings. Storm Gore-Tex boots: Musto Countrywear. Dog collar: Tim Hardy, The Worcestershire Leather Company. Links below

I've looked for clothing that is warm, practical, comfortable, weatherproof and durable. Most, but not all, of what you see here is British-made. Clothes tend to be muted in colour, reflecting their surroundings, unlike the garishness of modern technical outdoor wear. Above all, I've tried to show how it's possible to look stylish while enjoying the Great Outdoors, whether for sport, work or leisure.

Above: Canvas jacket: Shackleton. Cashmere scarf: Country Attire. Stick: Classic Canes. Tweed shooting waistcoat and breeks: Cordings. Storm Gore-Tex leather boots: Musto. Canvas Dalby country bag: Croots. Links below

Above 2 images: Harris tweed Sherpa jacket with Ventile hood: Nigel Cabourn. Jumper: Shackleton. Canvas country bag: Croots. Leather Gore-Tex boots: Musto. Jeans: Grey Fox's own. Links below

Above: Hat: Curzon Classics. Tweed shooting waistcoat and breeks: Cordings.  Ventile shooting coat and cashmere scarf: Country Attire. Leather Gore-Tex boots: Musto. Stick: Classic Canes. Links below

Above 2 images: Litchfield tweed shooting coat: Farlows. Hat: Shackleton. Silk scarf: Geoff Stocker. Quilted waxed gilet: Curzon Classics. Byland bridle leather cartridge bag: Croots. Jeans & boots: Grey Fox's own. Watch: Fortis from Page & Cooper. Links below

Above: Shooting coat: Grenfell. Waxed gilet: Curzon Classics. Silk scarf: Geoff Stocker. Links below

Above: Pea coat: Shackleton. Cotton tartan scarf: Wayside Flower. Blue Guernsey jumper: Wayside Flower. Links below

Above 2 images: Waxed cotton lightweight cagoule and cotton scarf: Wayside Flower. Vintage climbing breeches, socks and boots: Grey Fox's own. Stick: Mr Dennis Wall of Ulverston, Cumbria. Links below

Above: Norton Brown waxed jacket: Curzon Classics. Cashmere check scarf: Country Attire, Canvas bag: Croots. Stick: Mr Dennis Wall of Ulverston, Cumbria. Other clothes; Grey Fox's own. Links below

Above: Tweed three-piece suit and Tattersall check shirt: Cordings of Piccadilly. Tie: Cravat Club. Links below

Above: Quilted military style jacket with red piping (bespoke): Barrington Ayre. Links below

Above: Signature jumper: Shackleton Clothing. Cords: Curzon Classics, Veldtschoen construction Cairngorm derbies: Cheaney. Labrador-head stick: Classic Canes. Bridle leather dog lead and collar: Tim Hardy, Worcestershire Leather Co. Links below

Above: Tweed half-Norfolk jacket with action back and Tattersall check shirt: Curzon Classics. Wool/silk country tie: Cordings of Piccadilly. Cords: HebCoTro (Hebden Bridge Trouser Co.) Leather GoreTex boots: Musto Countrywear. Links below

Above: Green tweed quilted blouson: Curzon Classics. Check cashmere scarf: Country Attire. Cords and boots as in previous photo above. Links below

Above: Hampton Mackintosh raincoat with leg straps for riding, made in the traditional Mackintosh bonding method in Scotland: Cordings of Piccadilly. Signature jumper: Shackleton. Cords and boots as in the previous images above. Links below

Links, Notes & Acknowledgments

I'm particularly grateful to the brands who helped fund this shoot; they know who they are. Others provided products specifically for the shoot; others did so on previous occasions. Some simply lent products, but all helped in some way. Thanks also to Tommy Martin whose superb fashion and landscape photography skills made the shoot the success it was.

To the fells, becks, tarns, skies and seas of Cumbria

There are, of course, many other brands I could have included. I've tried to cover large and small suppliers. Britain's best known waxed jacket supplier didn't respond to my approaches for inclusion here, but their absence has meant that I've been able to introduce you to the small, but perfectly-formed, Curzon Classics. Although based in Spain, its British owners have their waxed jackets made in the UK and their quality and pricing is excellent. I was also pleased to be able to include Farlows, whose own-brand new British-made country clothing collection is quite superb. I will talk more about them, and some of the other brands mentioned here, in future features over the next month or two.

I have other photoshoots planned. Please contact me if you'd like your products to be included.

Contact me

What are your favourite pieces from those I've chosen? If you have any comments, queries, favourite pieces of outdoor wear of your own, please let me know. You can comment below or e-mail me.

Links to suppliers:

Barrington Ayre Bespoke tailors
Classic Canes Canes and walking sticks

Cordings Tweeds, tailoring and outdoorwear 

Cravat Club Silk cravats, ties, accessories

Croots Bags for outdoor, country and sports use

Curzon Classics British-style outdoor wear and tweeds

Country Attire Outdoor wear
Dennis Wall Sticks
Farlows Outdoor and sporting wear
Geoff Stocker Silk cravats, ties and accessories

Grenfell Outdoor and outer wear
HebTroCo Trousers made in Hebden Bridge Yorkshire

Musto Outdoor wear for country and water sports
Nigel Cabourn High quality menswear with military and adventure heritage
Page & Cooper Watches
Shackleton Outdoor wear and accessories with an adventure heritage
Wayside Flower Outdoor wear, knitwear and accessories
Tim Hardy, Worcestershire Leather Company Leather belts and accessories

Photoshoot completed and on the way home.

Above: Canvas bag: Croots. Harris tweed Sherpa jacket: Nigel Cabourn. 

British Outdoor Wear: A Continuing Heritage

Like most of us, I love the great British outdoors. But while our woods and lowlands are kind much of the year, the weather can be savage in the winter months, particularly in our hills and mountains. Within these extremes of weather we enjoy the countryside in so many ways; from walking, climbing and watching wildlife to fishing and shooting. The combination of the challenges of the terrain and weather and the demands of each particular pastime have led to the development over decades of clothing and equipment to allow us to enjoy these activities in comfort.

Barbour, Barbour and a duffel coat

British outdoor clothing developed to cope with these climactic extremes and brands such as Grenfell, Macintosh, Harris tweed, Cordings, Johnstons of Elgin (who made estate tweeds), Ventile, Barbour and Belstaff provided clothes for internationally renowned mountaineers, the military, sportsmen and women, royalty and ordinary people - and many of these makes survive today.

I wanted to celebrate this great British heritage by finding, wearing and showing the clothes that are their direct descendants. They provide practical alternatives to modern water and weatherproofs. Modern gear works well in extremes, but is often garish in colour, noisy to wear and, being made from non-renewable materials, is arguably less sustainable than traditional cotton or wool-based garments. It is also, in my eyes, much less comfortable and stylish than tailored tweeds and well-cut cotton-based weatherproofs.

Modern outdoor products are superb (I use them myself) but for less extreme use they lack that spirit and ability to improve with age that traditional garments display. 

I set out to find the survivors of this great heritage. Determined to photograph them in the hills, woods and streams for which they were designed, I organised a photoshoot in Cumbria. I wanted to do the clothes and British countryside justice with a professional photographer and I want to acknowledge the brands without whose financial help this project would have been impossible - they will be identified in the feature itself. 

Vintage outdoor clothing - from left: Barbour Ventile, Barbour archive, Grenfell vintage. Images Gillan Bell & Barbour

The feature will appear in a few days. Please call back and see what I found.