Monday 28 July 2014

The Mythical Harrington jacket / Baracuta




 A Harrington jacket is a lightweight waist-length jacket, made of cotton, polyester, wool or suede — usually with traditionally Fraser tartan or check-patterned lining. The first Harrington-style jackets were made by British clothing companies Grenfell of Burnley, Lancashire and Baracuta of Stockport, Cheshire in the 1930s. As of 2012, Baracuta still makes the same model, the G9. Elvis Presley popularized the Baracuta G9 when he wore it in his 1958 movie King Creole. This style of jacket earned the nickname Harrington because it was worn by the character Rodney Harrington (played by Ryan O'Neal) in the 1960s prime time soap opera Peyton Place.

Similar to the 1950s United States Ivy League look, the jacket became fashionable in the United Kingdom in the 1960s among mods and skinheads. They again became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s with skinhead and mod revivalists, as well as with scooterboys. Within those subcultures, Harringtons are often worn with Fred Perry or Ben Sherman shirts.

In France, HARRINGTON is a registered trademark since 1985.

In addition to Baracuta, companies that have made Harrington jackets include: Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Lambretta Clothing, Pretty Green, Brooks Brothers, Merc London, Fred Perry, Tesco, Izod, Ben Sherman, Lacoste, Lyle and Scott, Lonsdale, Warrior Clothing and howies.

In 2007, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its brand, Baracuta released three special edition G9 jackets with quotes by Presley, Steve McQueen and Frank Sinatra — all of them frequent wearers of the Harrington — printed on the lining.









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