One Thing Done Well: Parajumpers
Our series of brands doing one item especially well continues this month with Parajumpers’ down insulated jackets
It’s rare for an Italian designer to suggest that it is the function of their product, rather than its form, that evokes the most pride. But the Parajumpers range is designed with the long haul in mind.
The inspiration behind Parajumpers’ design ethos boils down to two chance discoveries during outerwear designer, Massimo Rossetti’s time in Alaska back in 2001. The first was the oversized zipped front pocket of an Anchorage fireman’s jacket, big enough to store his helmet. The second, a conversation with a member of the Alaska-based 210th USAF Rescue Squadron. And so it was that Parajumpers’ brand identity was forged from tall tales of helicopter flights, mountain rescues and heroic deeds.
Since then, Parajumpers has created a niche for itself that not only separates it from the crowd through quality, but also design. A hard-wearing nylon oxford shell guarantees durability while the inner lamination layer and melded shoulder, pit and hood seams keep the wearer dry. In a further nod to functionality, the oversized outer cargo pocket opens to reveal miniature mesh pockets sized for iPods, mobile phones and wallets. Further flourishes such as the tactile parachutist’s hook collar fastening identifies the jacket as a true Parajumpers piece, acting as a beacon for fellow gear-heads.
On the arm, a small zipped pocket sits below the classic and unmistakable (and removeable) Parajumpers patch. It is the customisation of the jacket that enamours it to so many prospective buyers. The hood, fur trimming, patch and even the interior insulation layer can be removed, ensuring the jacket remains wearable in any environment.
The jackets also feature two hand warming front pockets, a small zipped shoulder pocket, interior layer inside pockets for those things you want to keep really close to your heart, and reinforced sections around the elbow, the most heavily stressed part of any outer layer.
Parajumpers offer a number of variants on their winter jacket, each one warm, waterproof and endlessly customizable. Their jackets are also as carefully-designed as they are responsibly-sourced. Parajumpers use only ethically-farmed down and fur in their clothing, and even offer vegetarian versions of their most popular designs. Ethical, beautiful and adventure-ready, Parajumpers provide the perfect meeting point between intuitive design and solid, uncompromising functionality. EJ
The Parajumpers range is available at tessuti.co.uk
Words by James SZUMOWSKI
