Chartist Parka

by Saul Wilks
If you’re here reading this then thank you for taking the time to do so and also for your interest in the Chartist parka. After last years releases in the form of the Isca wind shirt and the Usk corduroy smock, I really wanted to get back to designing another piece of outerwear.
 
This time around I wanted to design a jacket which could be worn primarily in the warmer months but also be versatile enough to serve a purpose in the colder months. To achieve this I’ve used a hybrid coated cotton from Dundee based Halley Stevenson. If you’ve followed me for a while or are a returning customer then you’ll know this is my preferred fabric supplier for my outerwear pieces due to the weatherproof qualities of the fabrics.
 
This particular fabric is machine washable, can be line dried and has no residue or waxy finish. It’s completely dry and has a soft to medium handle so the more you wear it the more it’ll form a softer drape. This fabric is breathable while maintaining excellent shower and waterproof qualities. Therefore I've kept the jacket unlined as I wanted to keep the breathability at its optimum.
 
If you’ve been on board for a while then you’ll also know my penchant for using multiple pockets in my designs but I feel it’s almost become a novelty to use as many pockets as possible for a lot of jacket designs now so I wanted to reverse the trend so to speak. Therefore I set myself a design brief to use a similar number of pockets that I usually would but make the design less bulky and more understated. 

So I came up with a pocket system that incorporates a large sewn on flat pocket which has an internal boundary separating an upper chest pocket and a lower handwarmer section. Sewn directly over this is a large bellow style gusset pocket. So therefore there are 3 pockets on each side of of the jacket and 6 in total. Here are the finished sketches pre sample showing the design. The second image shows the actual jacket and pocket configuration in use. 

  

Other integral details to the design feature the front split hem (almost like a front fishtail), a double acting YKK silver zip and an added throat tab protector. As for the hood I've used buttons to enable crimping so that you can wear it close to the face in poor weather. I've added an image below to should how the hood looks crimped and un-crimped. I opted not to use a traditional sewn peak for this and instead designed the hood to protrude at a slight curve out over the face. 

The side view of the pockets, contrast stitch detailing and general drape of the jacket are shown below:

 

The Chartist parka is available to order in the following colours: Terracotta, lilac, olivine and birch. Please note that colours may differ slightly in person due to screen resolutions and settings.

Olivine

Lilac

Birch

Pre-Order Terms

    As with all my releases I have a set number of units agreed with the factory and once these are fulfilled that will be it so these will be available on a first come, first served basis. I very rarely have excess stock because everything is made to order.
     
    You can place your order directly through my social media DM's (instagram & facebook) or if you're old-skool you can drop me an email.
     
    Once you’ve placed your order you will be kept up to date on production progress at regular intervals. I will notify you of any delays or changes, which unfortunately do sometimes occur but generally turnaround time is between 6 - 10 weeks from production commencing depending on the factory scheduling. The fabric is also made to order so this needs to be taken into consideration along with normal production lead times.
      
    Please see the following payment / costing structure:
     
    • Pre order will open Friday 12th of April 
    • The Chartist parka is priced at £365. This includes special delivery shipping within the UK (overseas shipping will be calculated dependent on country)
    • A deposit of £180 will be required to be paid upon placing your order 
    • The remaining balance of £185 will be payable upon completion of production

    Payment can be made either via PayPal or bank transfer.

     

    Everything I do is manufactured here in the UK in the same small batch London production studio that I've used from the start. I've never been interested in making 'fast' fashion and garments that will be worn a couple of times and then forgotten. Therefore I use the best manufacturing and best fabrics that I can viably afford to produce clothing that will be worn and loved for years to come. British manufacturing is not cheap and neither are superior quality fabrics, therefore I keep my pricing as sustainable and fair as possible to be able to deliver the above. Quality is paramount and these jackets are a reflection on me.

    Sizing & Fit 

    This is meant only as a guide to help you choose the most appropriate size and to get an understanding of how the jacket looks and fits.

    The Chartist parka is designed to be worn loose, it hangs better when worn this way due to the nature of the cut, which is slightly generous. It has been cut this way to allow a nice looser fit during the warmer months but also affords the wearer the option to layer in the wetter / colder months.
    For your reference I am wearing an XL in the photographs. This size is relaxed on me and leaves room for layering and movement. I prefer to wear this size as I like the look of a looser cut. I'm 5'11 and generally wear XL - XXL.
     
     
      

    As always I encourage you to study the measurements carefully and compare them to a similar style jacket that you already own so you can choose the size best suited to you but please consider the fit guide and description when doing so. 

    Please note that due to the costs involved in making these and the fact that they're made to order I cannot accept returns due to sizing issues. However, I always get people who miss the pre order and then ask to be put on reserve list so that if any prospective spares become available in their size I am able to offer it to them. In this scenario a refund can be given to the original buyer but only once the requested return has been re-sold.

    Please see the below graded sizing chart and refer to the 'notes for simplified terminologies'

    All measurements are in cm.

    Please be aware that there is a manufacturing tolerance of +/- 2cm as standard.

     

    Notes: 

    • Across chest = pit to pit
    • HPS = Highest point of shoulder
    • Underarm sleeve = pit to cuff

    Lastly, if you've made it this far then I send my deepest and most sincere gratitude for your interest and support. This is merely a passion project that I'm only able to continue thanks to your participation. Whether that's investing in a Creu release or adding a comment or critique on a social media post, every input is very much appreciated.

    If you have any questions at all then please don't hesitate to contact me.

    Thanks for reading.

    Saul.

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