The FLY53 Rushen parka style jacket has some serious stories to tell. Originally introduced in the 50’s as the U.S army surplus jacket, it was practical, warm, tough, waterproof and camouflaged. A uniform that protected soldiers from the elements during the Korean War.
The following decade brought about a whole new lease of life for the parka style jacket and a whole new meaning to go with it.
In the 60’s it symbolized an entire era and lifestyle when it was taken on by the mods who redefined it’s meaning entirely. It became associated with their chaos causing ways, lifestyle on the fringes of society and running of things according to their own rules.
This season it’s back and proving functional outerwear has never been cooler. Our rendition takes the Parka’s vintage khaki green roots and fishtailed hem and slams it into 2013 with bold leather patches, a sharper silhouette, branded buttons and lightweight summer hood.
Menswear Design Team: It’s basically a hybrid garment fusing a lightweight military parka silhouette with old school mountaineering / explorer gear. Utilizing technical influences but using natural trims such as leather and natural cord & zip tape. We had recently been reading about Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer, who was captured by the British in Northern India whist mountaineering in 1939 and imprisoned due to his German citizenship. He escaped and crossed the border into Tibet, where he sought refuge, experienced a new way of life and enlightenment, became a close friend of the Dalai Lama and stayed until the Chinese invasion in 1950.
Heinrich Harrer’s (pictured above) life was portrayed in the film Seven Years In Tibet starring Brad Pitt.
This inspired the mix of military, old school mountain and native trims in Rushen relating to the contrast of Military / Spiritual.
Click Here to check out more from the Rushen Jacket, now in the FLY53 store.
